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Living in
Melissa.
About
Life in Melissa
If you're seriously considering a move to North Texas, Melissa offers something increasingly rare in the Dallas metro area: a place where explosive growth hasn't completely erased small-town character—at least not yet. The city has nearly tripled in population since 2010, and what you're getting is a young, family-oriented community where over half the households include kids under 18 and the median age hovers around 33. That growth translates to new schools, new infrastructure, and genuine investment, though it also means you're trading quiet for convenience.
Melissa at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
1.9%
Foreign-Born
17.3%
Broadband Internet
98.1%
of households
Population Growth
+115.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.3% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Melissa: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Melissa, the largest foreign-born group is from India (21.0%), and 9.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
30.7%
of residents
65 and Older
6.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
57.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
10.5%
of households
Married Couples
75.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.26
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 80% above TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Melissa
In Melissa, rent runs 80% above the TX average, and home values are 60% above the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,860
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
88.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2015
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $422,481 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Melissa
Unemployment in Melissa is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Melissa Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute33.6 min avg
How Melissa residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Melissa, most residents drive alone to work (59%), and 41% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 34 mi
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Medium hub8.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 38 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 85% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Melissa runs 85% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
49.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
433.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Melissa Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 34 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Collin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Collin County, which includes Melissa, the most common type is hail, with 34 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | Hail | $2.0M |
| 2024 | 36 | Hail | $1.8M |
| 2023 | 26 | Hail | $1302.6M |
| 2022 | 26 | Drought | $410,000 |
| 2021 | 23 | Hail | $6.6M |
| 2020 | 15 | Heat | $2.2M |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.4M |
| 2018 | 15 | Hail | $770,000 |
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.
10 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Collin County, county-wide
Melissa is about 2% of Collin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Collin County, which includes Melissa, is typically good — 272 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
272
per year
Moderate Days
64
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Collin County, county-wide
Melissa is about 2% of Collin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate94°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Melissa has hot summers (avg high 94°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
94°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
57°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.7"
Annual Snowfall
2.6"
Hot Days/Year
88
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
45
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
88
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 34°F | 2.70" |
| Feb | 60°F | 38°F | 2.57" |
| Mar | 68°F | 46°F | 3.51" |
| Apr | 75°F | 53°F | 3.58" |
| May | 83°F | 62°F | 4.77" |
| Jun | 91°F | 70°F | 3.58" |
| Jul | 95°F | 74°F | 1.96" |
| Aug | 96°F | 73°F | 1.73" |
| Sep | 88°F | 66°F | 2.81" |
| Oct | 78°F | 54°F | 4.41" |
| Nov | 66°F | 44°F | 3.19" |
| Dec | 57°F | 36°F | 3.49" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Melissa
Uninsured
5.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Melissa's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Baylor Scott and White Medical Center Mckinney
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Mc Kinney
Medical Center of Mckinney
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.9 mi away · Mckinney
Methodist Mckinney Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.4 mi away · Mckinney
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.
Education16.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Melissa
Melissa's student/teacher ratio is 16.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 52.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Melissa (within 15 miles)
Collin County Community College District
10 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 26,449 students · in-state tuition $2,014 · 21% graduate · median earnings $50,928 (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: Chickasaw National Recreation Area, 85 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Melissa
Melissa has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Chickasaw National Recreation Area (85 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Melissa
Melissa Public Library
3411 Barker Ave, Melissa
Cities Near Melissa
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Melissa?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Melissa FAQ
Is Melissa, Texas affordable?⌄
Melissa's median rent is $2,532/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $138,763/year. Median home value is $454,000.
Is Melissa, Texas safe?⌄
Melissa's violent crime rate was 49 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 433 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Melissa, Texas?⌄
Melissa has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Melissa, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Melissa is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,532/month and median household income is $138,763/year. The median home value is $454,000. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Melissa, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Melissa is 34 minutes, which is longer than 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