# Living in Melissa, TX: Realust Score 85

> Source: Realust (realust.com), data as of October 2026. Cite: https://realust.com/city/melissa/

URL: https://realust.com/city/melissa/
County: Collin
Realust Score: 85/100 (A-, Great), tied for #21 of 84. Base 85 + price-tier bonus 0.
Category scores: Prosperity 84, Schools 90, Safety 91, Lifestyle 89, Market 76, Affordability 90, Commute 53, Growth 83
Median home price: $422K
Population: 20,136
Market momentum: Strong growth (home prices -5.7% over 1 year, +7.9% over 5 years)

Melissa, TX is a fast-growing north Collin County suburb just above McKinney along US-75, with a newer, family-forward feel driven by master-planned neighborhoods, recent schools, and constant residential buildout. It reads more “new suburb” than “small town” at this point: lots of newer roofs, community pools and trails, and a steady stream of retail and services filling in as rooftops multiply. Day-to-day life is convenient for basics but still car-centric, with many people leaning on nearby McKinney (and sometimes Allen/Frisco) for deeper shopping, dining, and medical options. Commuting tends to funnel down US-75 toward Plano/Richardson/Dallas, and traffic can be a real variable during peak hours or when incidents hit the corridor; if your job is west toward Frisco/Legacy, you’ll often feel the cross-town drive. The upsides are newer housing stock, strong community amenities, and a generally polished suburban environment anchored by Melissa ISD’s reputation; the tradeoffs are fewer established “old town” pockets, ongoing construction, and the reality that infrastructure and commercial options are still catching up to growth.

Strengths:
- More affordable than Frisco or McKinney – New homes at a lower price point
- Highly rated Melissa ISD – Known for strong academics and new school facilities
- New infrastructure & homes – Modern layouts, energy-efficient builds, and fresh amenities

Trade-offs:
- Longer commute to Dallas – 40–50+ minutes depending on traffic
- Limited shopping & dining – Most major retail is in McKinney or Anna
- Ongoing development can mean road work and expansion projects

Data:
- Demographics / Population: Total Population 20,136; People per sq mile 1,744; 5-Year Growth +112.2%
- Demographics / Mobility & Migration: Moved Last Year 18.4%; Same Home 1+ Year 81.6%; From Out of State 4.4%; From Different County 3.0%
- Demographics / Age Distribution: Under 18 30.7%; 25-34 10.5%; 35-44 21.0%; 65+ 6.7%; Median Age 36.3 years
- Demographics / Households: Avg Household Size 3.3; Family Households 86.7%; Homeownership Rate 88.7%; With Kids 57.5%; Married 75.7%; Single Parent 6.3%; Living Alone 10.5%; Seniors Alone 6.4%
- Demographics / Education Level: High School+ 93.4%; Bachelor's+ 52.6%; Graduate Degree 17.0%
- Demographics / Connectivity & Remote Work: Broadband Access 98.1%; Have Computer 99.0%; Work From Home 29.3%
- Real Estate / Home Prices: Per Sq Ft $191; Starter Home $403,990; Median Price $422,271; Premium Home $674,990
- Real Estate / Home Price Trends: 1-Year Change -5.7%; 5-Year Change +7.9%
- Real Estate / Rent Trends: 1-Year Change +2%
- Real Estate / Market Health: Active Listings 94; Median Days on Market 72; Under Contract 36.5%; Price Reduced 5.5%; Sale-to-List Ratio 97.4%
- Real Estate / Market Insights: Cheaper to Rent $539/mo; Seller's market 1.7 mo; Rental Yield 5.1%; Income to Buy 3x; vs Region Avg -15%
- Real Estate / Fit Scores: Remote Work Fit 98; Family Fit 64; Investment 80
- Real Estate / Typical Home: Sq Ft 2,626; Beds 3.9; Baths 3.1; Lot Sq Ft 13,896; Year Built 2022; Garage 2.1-car
- Real Estate / Property Mix: Single Family 91%; Townhome 4.5%; Condo 0%
- Real Estate / Common Features: Pool 0.5%; Garage 98%; Single Story 30.5%; Fireplace 16%; Central Air 8%
- Real Estate / Costs & Ownership: Est. Monthly Payment $2,339; Median Rent $1,800; Avg HOA Fee $78/mo; Have HOA 7.5%
- Real Estate / Investment Indicators: Rental Vacancy 0.8%; New Construction 91.5%; Per Bedroom $132,377
- Lifestyle / Lifestyle Scores: Area Feel Rural; Family Friendly 8.7; Outdoor Activities 5.3; Nightlife 4.7; Health & Fitness 7.3; Diversity 7.3; Weather 6.7
- Lifestyle / Nearby Amenities (within 5 miles): Restaurants 60+; Parks 35; Gyms 19; Coffee 18; Bars 2; Daycares 60+; Hospitals 2; Pharmacies 12; Dentists 31; Libraries 3; Dog Parks 60+; Museums 2
- Lifestyle / Getting Around: Walk Score 4; Bike Score 25
- Lifestyle / Seasonal Temperatures (high / low): January 55° / 38°; April 73° / 54°; July 94° / 77°; October 77° / 58°
- Lifestyle / Annual Conditions: Sunny Days/Year 216; Rainy Days/Year 149; Annual Rainfall 54.8"
- Crime & Safety / Safety Overview: Safety Grade A; Violent crime (per 1,000) 0.74; Property crime (per 1,000) 6.56
- Crime & Safety / Violent Crime (per 100,000): Assault 28.74; Robbery 0; Murder 0; Rape 7.19
- Crime & Safety / Property Crime (per 100,000): Burglary 61.08; Theft 247.92; Vehicle Theft 32.34
- Job Market / Income: Median Household $138,763; Average Household $148,712; Per Capita $46,817
- Job Market / Employment: Unemployment Rate 3.6%; Job Growth (1 yr) +16.9%; Poverty Rate 1.9%
- Job Market / Income Distribution: $150k+ 42.0%; $100k-$150k 25.3%; $75k-$100k 10.4%; $50k-$75k 11.8%; $25k-$50k 7.5%; Under $25k 3.0%
- Education / School District: Primary district Melissa ISD; District Grade A; State Ranking Top 3%
- Education / Schools: Elementary 4; Middle 1; High School 1
- Education / Elementary Schools: Harry Mckillop Elementary A (93); Melissa Ridge Education Center A (92)
- Education / Middle Schools: Melissa Middle A (92)
- Education / High Schools: Melissa High School A (94)
- Education / Academic Info: Student-Teacher Ratio 16:1
- Education / Graduation Rates (Class of 2024): Graduation Rate 97.9%; Dropout Rate 0.3%
- Education / College Readiness (Class of 2023): Took SAT/ACT 71%; College Ready 29.8%; TSI Ready 36.9%
- Transportation / Mobility Scores: Walk Score 4; Bike Score 25
- Transportation / Commute: Avg Minutes 34; Drive Alone 56.1%; Carpool 13.6%; Work from Home 29.3%
- Transportation / Distance To: Downtown Dallas 39.8 mi; DFW Airport 41.2 mi; Love Field 42.1 mi
- Transportation / EV Charging: Public Stations 2; DC Fast Ports 8; Level 2 Ports 10
- Cost of Living / Cost Index (100 = National Average): Overall 100; Housing 113; Utilities 97; Groceries 100; Transportation 102; Healthcare 100
- Cost of Living / Monthly Utilities: Electric $142; Water $52; Gas $44; Internet $72
- Cost of Living / Everyday Costs: Monthly Groceries (Family of 4) $823; Gas Price (per gallon) $2.82
- Cost of Living / Taxes: Sales Tax Rate 8.3%; Property Tax Rate 2.2%

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