Most deck conversations start with material, so here's how the common options actually compare once they're in the ground and through a couple of Indiana winters.
Pressure-treated pine is the most affordable and still the most common. It's strong, it's what we frame nearly every deck with, and it holds up well — as long as you commit to cleaning and sealing it every couple of years. Skip that and it grays, checks, and splinters.
Cedar costs more and looks better doing it. It resists rot naturally, stays cooler underfoot, and takes stain beautifully. It's softer than pine, so it dents easier, and it still wants sealing to keep its color.
Composite is the most expensive up front and the cheapest to own. No sealing, no splinters, no annual weekend lost to a deck stain. Modern capped composite handles freeze-thaw well and holds color far better than early generations did. It does run hotter in direct sun.
Railing is its own decision. Wood railing matches a traditional house; black aluminum balusters look sharper and don't block the view; cable rail all but disappears, which matters on an elevated deck with something worth looking at.
Whatever goes on top, the framing underneath is what determines how long the deck lasts: footings below frost line, flashing at the ledger, and proper joist spacing for the decking you chose.