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Living in
Mesquite.
About
Life in Mesquite
If you're considering Mesquite, understand that you're looking at a sprawling suburban city of 150,000 people positioned squarely in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, where a quarter of all Texans already live. Housing is reasonably priced compared to many Texas metros, with median home values around $245,700 and median household income at $71,843, though you'll want to factor in the car dependency that comes with suburban sprawl and the fact that while DART commuter rail exists, public transit is limited—you're driving almost everywhere. The community is genuinely family-oriented with 41% of households containing kids, 76 parks, four recreation centers, and excellent schools through Mesquite Independent School District, plus the city has earned "Playful City USA" designation four years running, which speaks to the actual lifestyle locals value.
Mesquite at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.4%
Foreign-Born
20.9%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
+0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Mesquite: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mesquite, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (63.5%), and 35.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.9%
of residents
65 and Older
11.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.7%
of households
Married Couples
44.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.96
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 8% above TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Mesquite
In Mesquite, rent runs 8% above the TX average, and home values are 13% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,859
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $256,597 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Mesquite and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Mesquite 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 Mesquite 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
Commute32.1 min avg
How Mesquite residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mesquite, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 45% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Medium hub8.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 27 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 38% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mesquite runs 38% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
452.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,230.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mesquite 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 Mesquite, 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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dallas County, county-wide
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dallas County, which includes Mesquite, 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
Climate96°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mesquite has hot summers (avg high 96°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/57°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
96°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
108
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
23
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
85
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 38°F | 2.59" |
| Feb | 62°F | 42°F | 2.78" |
| Mar | 70°F | 49°F | 3.45" |
| Apr | 77°F | 57°F | 3.15" |
| May | 85°F | 66°F | 4.57" |
| Jun | 93°F | 74°F | 3.83" |
| Jul | 97°F | 78°F | 1.71" |
| Aug | 97°F | 77°F | 2.19" |
| Sep | 90°F | 70°F | 3.10" |
| Oct | 80°F | 59°F | 4.79" |
| Nov | 68°F | 48°F | 2.93" |
| Dec | 59°F | 40°F | 3.23" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mesquite
Mesquite has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
21.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Dallas Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Baylor Scott and White Medical Center Sunnyvale
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Sunnyvale
White Rock Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.8 mi away · Dallas
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.2 mi away · Rockwall
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.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mesquite
Mesquite's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 19.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
50
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Mesquite (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 43,869 students · in-state tuition $2,970 · 26% graduate · median earnings $44,572 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,277 students · in-state tuition $69,722 · 82% graduate · median earnings $90,037 (10 yrs after entry)
University of North Texas at Dallas
14.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 2,878 students · in-state tuition $9,601 · 57% graduate
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 620 students · in-state tuition $16,248 · 30% graduate · median earnings $37,049 (10 yrs after entry)
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service
5.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 454 students · in-state tuition $17,640 · 73% graduate · median earnings $43,899 (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, 87 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mesquite
Mesquite has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (87 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Mesquite
Mesquite Public Library
300 W Grubb Dr, Mesquite
Mesquite Public Library-North Branch
2600 Oates Dr, Mesquite
Cities Near Mesquite
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mesquite?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mesquite FAQ
Is Mesquite, Texas affordable?⌄
Mesquite's median rent is $1,513/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $72,537/year. Median home value is $245,700.
Is Mesquite, Texas safe?⌄
Mesquite's violent crime rate was 453 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2231 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mesquite, Texas?⌄
Mesquite has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mesquite, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Mesquite is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,513/month and median household income is $72,537/year. The median home value is $245,700. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mesquite, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Mesquite is 32 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