2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Ames, IA vs Merrillville, IN

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Highlights
Are people in Merrillville older or younger than people in Ames?
- The Median Age in Merrillville is 15.3 years older than in Ames.

Are housing costs cheaper in Merrillville or Ames?
- Merrillville housing costs are 8.2% less expensive than Ames housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Merrillville or Ames?
- The average commute for residents of Merrillville is 10.9 minutes longer than it is for residents of Ames.

Things to do in Ames?
Ames, Iowa is a lively city located in the heart of central Iowa. This bustling city offers plenty for visitors to explore such as the picturesque Reiman Gardens or the historic Octagon Center for the Arts. Residents here also enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities at Hills Memorial Park or Brookside Park. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Ames their home.

Things to do in Merrillville?
Merrillville IN lies on Lake Michigan northwest corner Indiana making great location live work play filled activities entertainment that family can enjoy

 Ames, IAMerrillville, INUnited States
 Population  Unlock36,196329,725,481
 Median Income$54,339  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock38.738.4
 Avg. Home Price$239,100  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock8.8%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time16.44  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Ames    12 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

Hello, I am in San Jose Ca, but am seriously thinking of moving somewhere much slower for a better quality of living. I've just turned 59, so I'm kinda preparing for  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like every other city Ames has both good and bad points. The good points are: low cost of living, very friendly people, lots of outdoor activities and quite a few events  More

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Ames enjoys a high quality of life at a very affordable cost, substantially lower than many other communities. The presence of Iowa State University, a large (28,000  More

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Reviews for Merrillville    3 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

too close to Gary with that  More

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Just thirty minuits from Chicago . Good schools. Low cost of  More

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Reasonable cost of living and fairly safe. Also close to Chitown so the cultural stuff is there. Shopping is run of the mill brand name franchises, nothing too  More

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