Population 20,069 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Melissa
Household size in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.98 | 2.83 | 2.87 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.24 | 2.89 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.52 | 2.94 | 2.95 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.25 | 2.87 | 2.83 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.26 | +0.03 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Melissa is a place of big households: 3.25 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Household size has climbed from 2.98 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4 | 34.6 | 34.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.8 | 35.3 | 35.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.5 | 36.2 | 36.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.7 | 36.7 | 36.7 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +2.2 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Melissa is 36.7 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The picture is much the same across the Dallas area. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.4, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.2% | 13.2% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 13.4% | 13.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 12.6% | 13.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 11.6% | 12.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.5% of households in Melissa, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 5.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Melissa has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Texas cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Melissa
Renters in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 37.1% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 39.5% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 40.5% | 38.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 39.9% | 37.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +2.8 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 11.4% of households in Melissa rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 20.3% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.5 points, even as the national share rose. Only 44 of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 10.2% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 8.8% | 10.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 8.2% | 10.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.3 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 3.2% of homes in Melissa are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 6.3 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people, only 12 have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1999 | 1984 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 2002 | 1985 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 2007 | 1987 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 2014 | 1992 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Change | +15 | +8 | +8 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Melissa is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 2014, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1999 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Of the 545 Texas cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,101 | $1,058 | $921 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,157 | $1,135 | $1,005 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,947 | $1,349 | $1,178 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,362 | $1,865 | $1,560 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,261 | +$807 | +$639 | +$606 |
The median renter in Melissa pays $2,362 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,261 a month since 2006–10, up 114%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.1% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Melissa
Bachelor's degrees in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.6% | 31.6% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.9% | 32.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.1% | 34.9% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.1% | 39.5% | 34.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.5 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Melissa is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (50.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 16.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Melissa has a higher share of college graduates than the great majority of Texas cities.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.9% | 83.5% | 80.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.3% | 84.4% | 82.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.0% | 85.4% | 83.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 87.6% | 85.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.2 pts | +4.0 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Melissa is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 8.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Melissa has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Texas cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Melissa
| Period | Melissa | Dallas area | Texas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 7.1% | 7.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.1% | 7.6% | 7.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.8% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Melissa runs below the national rate: 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.0 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Melissa compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa | 3.25 | 36.7 | 7.5% | 11.4% | 3.2% | 2014 | $2,362 | 50.1% | 94.1% | 3.7% |
| Anna | 3.28 | 33.8 | 10.6% | 19.3% | 7.7% | 2013 | $1,989 | 29.7% | 93.5% | 4.5% |
| Kelly | 2.44 | 43.8 | 2.4% | 8.6% | 5.4% | 2018 | $1,956 | 61.0% | 98.2% | 5.3% |
| New Hope | 2.69 | 45.0 | 3.3% | 20.9% | 5.6% | 2007 | $1,773 | 41.6% | 92.2% | 5.9% |
| Weston | 2.44 | 43.8 | 2.4% | 8.6% | 5.4% | 2018 | $1,956 | 61.0% | 98.2% | 5.3% |
| Westminster | 2.83 | 43.4 | 7.1% | 11.1% | 6.0% | 2008 | $1,310 | 28.1% | 90.1% | 2.0% |
| Verona | 2.53 | 53.1 | 0.6% | 15.5% | 2.4% | 1993 | $2,602 | 25.8% | 86.4% | 1.7% |
| Princeton | 3.06 | 34.2 | 15.4% | 23.1% | 4.8% | 2010 | $2,109 | 27.5% | 89.7% | 3.4% |
| Lowry Crossing | 3.25 | 35.5 | 12.1% | 20.0% | 6.7% | 2019 | $2,014 | 38.5% | 92.4% | 3.0% |
| Blue Ridge | 3.00 | 40.5 | 8.1% | 10.6% | 6.5% | 2000 | $1,568 | 26.1% | 91.5% | 2.7% |
| McKinney | 2.88 | 37.3 | 10.2% | 34.6% | 5.6% | 2006 | $2,210 | 54.9% | 95.3% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Beachwood, OH · Alachua, FL · Alamo, CA · Baraboo, WI · Ballston Lake, NY · Azalea Park, FL · Northview, MI · North Chicago, IL · North Easton, MA · North Mankato, MN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Melissa. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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