3 census tracts · pop 9,448 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 4.2/10
· range 3.7–5.4
Southmoor Park takes in 3 census tracts of Merrillville, IN, population 9,448. Scored across those inputs it reaches 4.2/10, placing it in the Moderate tier. Cost burden runs 48% against 33.6% citywide, putting Southmoor Park 14.2% over its own city.
Severe burden reaches 25%. A tenant at that level absorbs no shock: one cut shift or one repair bill converts directly into arrears. The main counterweight is eviction-process difficulty, at 1.9/10. Scores across the 3 constituent tracts range from 3.7 to 5.4. A 1.7-point internal spread means block-level underwriting beats area-level here.
On the high side is rent-regulation exposure at 7.6/10. Running hot is housing-court posture at 7/10.
Average gross rent is $1,144, 11% below the Merrillville average of $1,282. That places it #3 of 4 neighborhoods in Merrillville.
The closest comparables inside the same city are Lincoln Village and Lottaville. Annual rent works out to 23% of average household income of $59,838. 44% of occupied units are renter-occupied.
For a specific building, read the per-tract breakdown below rather than the 4.2 headline, because the internal range is too wide to average safely. Scores move when the ACS release, the court-record feed, or the statute ledger behind them moves.
Risk score
4.2
Moderate
3 tracts · population-weighted
Southmoor Park vs MerrillvilleHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority76%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport77%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted
Eviction-adjacent indicators in Southmoor Park
Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.
14.0%Housing insecurity
11.0%Utility shutoff threat
19.0%Food insecurity
11.5%SNAP enrollment
9.0%No health insurance
32.3%Any disability
Frequently asked
About Southmoor Park
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for Southmoor Park?
Southmoor Park scores 4.2/10 (Moderate tier) across 3 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.
Q2
How does Southmoor Park compare to Merrillville overall?
Southmoor Park scores 0.2 points higher than Merrillville overall (4/10). Renters spend 48% of income on rent vs 34% citywide. Average rent: $1,144 vs $1,282.
Q3
What is the average rent in Southmoor Park?
Average gross rent in Southmoor Park is $1,144/month (pop-weighted across 3 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of Southmoor Park residents are renters?
44% of Southmoor Park households are renter-occupied (vs 30% in Merrillville). The neighborhood has 9,448 residents.
Q5
Is Southmoor Park a high social-vulnerability area?
Southmoor Park sits in the 70th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.
Q6
Which tracts in Southmoor Park have the highest eviction risk?
The highest-risk constituent tract in Southmoor Park is census tract 18089042404 (score 5.4/10). Across the 3 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 3.7 to 5.4, a spread of 1.7 points.
Q7
How safe is Southmoor Park for landlords?
Southmoor Park carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (4.2/10). Pop-weighted across 3 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Merrillville as a whole (4/10), this neighborhood is in line with the citywide level.
Q8
What is the demographic breakdown of Southmoor Park?
Southmoor Park has 9,303 residents. Top groups: Black (non-Hispanic) (42.4%), White (non-Hispanic) (37.8%), Hispanic / Latino (12%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
