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Living in
DeSoto.
About
Life in DeSoto
If you're considering DeSoto as a base for Dallas-area living, understand that you're signing up for a genuine suburban experience—not a bedroom community pretending to be something else. With a median home value around $319,400 and median rent at $1,666, you'll find it somewhat more affordable than inner Dallas but not dramatically cheap; the housing market is tight with very few vacant units. The commute matters here—plan on roughly 31 minutes to get elsewhere, and you'll definitely need a car since the city is almost entirely urbanized sprawl.
DeSoto at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.6%
Foreign-Born
7.8%
Broadband Internet
93.7%
of households
Population Growth
+1.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in DeSoto: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In DeSoto, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (60.9%), and 14.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.3%
of households
Married Couples
41.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.69
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 19% above TX average
Rent, home values, and income in DeSoto
In DeSoto, rent runs 19% above the TX average, and home values are 13% above the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
66.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,316
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $319,395 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts above TX average
Unemployment in DeSoto and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in DeSoto is 1 percentage points higher than the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What DeSoto Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area
Commute30.8 min avg
How DeSoto residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In DeSoto, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Medium hub8.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 24 mi
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Major hub41.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 14% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in DeSoto runs 14% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
283.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,581.3
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
DeSoto Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 36 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dallas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dallas County, which includes DeSoto, the most common type is hail, with 36 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | Flash Flood | $4.2M |
| 2024 | 34 | Flash Flood | $5.4M |
| 2023 | 33 | Hail | $2.4M |
| 2022 | 34 | Drought | $1351.6M |
| 2021 | 27 | Hail | $7.0M |
| 2020 | 24 | Hail | $95,000 |
| 2019 | 34 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1970.5M |
| 2018 | 18 | Flash Flood | $991,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dallas County, county-wide
DeSoto is about 2% of Dallas County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dallas County, which includes DeSoto, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
148
per year
Moderate Days
206
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Dallas County, county-wide
DeSoto is about 2% of Dallas County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate95°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
DeSoto has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
104
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
27
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
85
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 38°F | 2.55" |
| Feb | 62°F | 41°F | 2.57" |
| Mar | 69°F | 48°F | 3.57" |
| Apr | 76°F | 55°F | 3.70" |
| May | 84°F | 64°F | 4.34" |
| Jun | 91°F | 72°F | 3.87" |
| Jul | 96°F | 75°F | 1.91" |
| Aug | 96°F | 75°F | 1.80" |
| Sep | 89°F | 68°F | 2.95" |
| Oct | 79°F | 58°F | 4.54" |
| Nov | 67°F | 47°F | 2.78" |
| Dec | 59°F | 39°F | 3.08" |
Healthcare2 hospitals
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in DeSoto
DeSoto has 2 hospitals.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
13.1%
of residents
Hickory Trail Hospital
Psychiatric
Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital Llc
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Crescent Medical Center Lancaster
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Lancaster
Methodist Charlton Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Dallas
Dallas VA Medical Center (va North Texas Healthcare System)
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 7.6 mi away · Dallas
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in DeSoto
DeSoto's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 30.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near DeSoto (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 43,869 students · in-state tuition $2,970 · 26% graduate · median earnings $44,572 (10 yrs after entry)
University of North Texas at Dallas
5.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 2,878 students · in-state tuition $9,601 · 57% graduate
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,403 students · in-state tuition $41,870 · 55% graduate · median earnings $58,159 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,479 students · in-state tuition $26,324 · 33% graduate · median earnings $46,684 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 620 students · in-state tuition $16,248 · 30% graduate · median earnings $37,049 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 252 students · in-state tuition $17,692 · 53% graduate · median earnings $45,911 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Waco Mammoth National Monument, 71 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for DeSoto
DeSoto has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (71 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in DeSoto
Desoto Public Library
211 E Pleasant Run Rd Ste C, Desoto
Cities Near DeSoto
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to DeSoto?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
DeSoto FAQ
Is DeSoto, Texas affordable?⌄
DeSoto's median rent is $1,666/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $82,782/year. Median home value is $319,400.
Is DeSoto, Texas safe?⌄
DeSoto's violent crime rate was 283 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1581 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in DeSoto, Texas?⌄
DeSoto has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in DeSoto, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in DeSoto is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,666/month and median household income is $82,782/year. The median home value is $319,400. About 66% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in DeSoto, Texas?⌄
The average commute in DeSoto is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from