The Town FilesMesquite, Texas
City in Dallas County · population 150,108 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $245,700
- Household income
- $72,537
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 32.9
Mesquite is a city of 150,108 people in Dallas County, Texas. The median home is worth $245,700, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Texas towns, more vibrant than 95% of Texas towns, better for cycling than 88% of Texas towns.
How Mesquite ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mesquite is worth $245,700, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $72,537, which is more affordable than 32% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,513 a month. 62.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mesquite | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,700 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,513 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $72,537 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 62.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Mesquite
| People | Mesquite | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.9 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Mesquite
July highs average 95.9°F and January lows 35.6°F. About 40.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 106 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mesquite since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 26, 2015 about 2.5 miles from the town center and killed 10. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 565 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 9, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 126 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 11, 2016.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Dallas County
Dallas County had 1,826,215 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $89,284 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Mesquite itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Mesquite
50 public schools with 38,544 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HORN H S | 9-12 | 2,874 | 15.5 |
| MESQUITE H S | 9-12 | 2,405 | 13.7 |
| NORTH MESQUITE H S | 9-12 | 2,100 | 13.9 |
| WEST MESQUITE H S | 9-12 | 2,082 | 14.3 |
| VROONLAND - VANGUARD H S | 9-12 | 1,591 | 17.3 |
| POTEET H S | 9-12 | 1,527 | 14.0 |
| KIMBROUGH MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,152 | 16.0 |
| AGNEW MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,068 | 14.2 |
| LEGACY PREP CHARTER ACADEMY MESQUITE WEST CAMPUS (charter) | PK-12 | 1,065 | 13.5 |
| DR DON WOOLLEY MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,050 | 18.1 |
| LANNY FRASIER MIDDLE | 6-8 | 998 | 14.5 |
| TERRY MIDDLE | 6-8 | 866 | 15.5 |
Towns near Mesquite
- Sunnyvale, TX3.2 mi · 7,893 people · home $565,300
- Balch Springs, TX3.7 mi · 27,685 people · home $224,400
- Travis Ranch, TX6.8 mi · 7,324 people · home $345,400
- Seagoville, TX7.7 mi · 18,446 people · home $230,400
- Forney, TX7.7 mi · 23,455 people · home $346,400
- Heath, TX9.5 mi · 9,769 people · home $766,900
- Heartland, TX9.7 mi · 8,509 people · home $322,000
- Garland, TX10.7 mi · 246,018 people · home $270,800
Mesquite questions
Is Mesquite, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mesquite scores better for retirees than 4% of Texas towns and quieter than 4%. 11.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.9).
How much does a house cost in Mesquite?
The median owner-occupied home in Mesquite is valued at $245,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,537, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,513 a month.
What is the weather like in Mesquite?
July highs average 95.9°F and January lows 35.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Mesquite get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mesquite since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on December 26, 2015. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)