Mesquite vs Richardson
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $245,700 in Mesquite and $431,400 in Richardson.
- Households earn more in Richardson ($98,111 vs $72,537 median).
- Commutes are shorter in Richardson (24 vs 32 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Mesquite, TX | Richardson, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 150,693 | 118,542 |
| Growth since 2020 | +0.3% | -0.8% |
| People per square mile | 3,069 | 4,150 |
| Median age | 32.9 | 33.9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20% | 57% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $72,537 | $98,111 |
| Median home value | $245,700 | $431,400 |
| Home value to income | 3.4× | 4.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,513 | $1,857 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 103.1 | 103.1 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 117.9 | 117.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $77,300 | $77,300 |
| Homeowners | 63% | 51% |
| Top state income tax | None | None |
| Combined sales tax | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 32.1 | 23.6 |
| Work from home | 10% | 25% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.4% | 5% |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 9.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 58° / 38° | 58° / 38° |
| July high / low | 97° / 78° | 97° / 78° |
| Precipitation per year | 38 in | 38 in |
| Snowfall per year | 2 in | 2 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 108 | 108 |
| Nights below freezing | 23 | 23 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 28% | 28% |
| Home prices, past year | +0.5% | +0.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +35.4% | +35.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Mesquite: March to April and November. Richardson: March to April and November.
Full monthly tables: Mesquite weather by month and Richardson weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $77,300 in Mesquite and $77,300 in Richardson. Moving from Mesquite to Richardson, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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