Melissa is located 37 miles north of Dallas. It’s a small town that has seen massive growth over the past few years. For instance, if you lived here 10 years ago and you came back for a visit, you wouldn’t recognize half of the city because of the massive development of the area. The population of the city reached the 10,000 mark as of 2018. That’s 10 times the number that existed when the residents of this suburb numbered only a little more than 1,000 back in the year 2000.

The town actually has an old history as its origins can be traced back to the 1840s when the pioneers first came to the area due to the fertile soil. However, it wasn’t until 1872 when the town was established after the arrival of the train. A year later, it already has its own Post Office.

The town’s name itself is interesting. Who is Melissa? Historians are not clear on that point. They believe that it was named after the daughter of a railroad official named George A. Quinlan or another railroad executive, C.P. Huntington.

The city is being served by the Melissa Independent School District which is known for having great schools. There are top-rated schools like the Harry Mckillop Elementary School, Melissa Ridge Intermed, and Melissa Middle School.

In recent years, the booming population also forced schools to upgrade their buildings and facilities, which benefits the students.

Although the town is quite small, families are pulling in bigger incomes compared to the average in the state. For instance, the average household income is $105,582 compared to around $53,000 for the entire state of Texas.

The unemployment rate here is also lower compared to the average in the US. That means the population is generally very productive.

What To Do in Melissa

There are plenty of parks in Melissa such as the Zadow Park, which has a big playground for kids, a picnic area where you can grill your food, a basketball court, a skateboard park, baseball fields, and a sand volleyball court.

Bob Miller Park is a smaller area but it also has its own playground and a pavilion. The same goes for Hunter’s Ridge, which can be found in Hunter’s Ridge Subdivision.

Meanwhile, the City Hall Plaza Park, which is a new addition to the town’s Parks and Recreation program, has a spray fountain for kids, paved paths, and a pavilion that can be used for private events. At night, the park is illuminated by a colorful light show, especially during the summer.

The city also has plenty of dining options with authentic dishes from all over. You can sample Mexican, Asian, European, and Mediterranean cuisines right here in Melissa. This is still a small town and while your basic conveniences are taken care of, if you want to step your shopping up a level, you can just drive to nearby cities like McKinney and Allen. In McKinney you will find the bigger shopping complex called The Shops at Legacy and in Allen you can shop at the Outlet Shops. Both shopping complexes can be accessed in less than 20 minutes.

One advantage Melissa is that you can always go back home and enjoy the peace and quiet if you feel overwhelmed by the crowded big cities.

Melissa Real Estate Profile

These days, many people seem to want to be a part of small-town living and it’s easy to understand why. Big city life can be challenging with the pollution, traffic, noise, congestion and busy pace.  This is very different from the small town feeling you get in Melissa.

If you’re trying to raise children it can be a little disconcerting not knowing what your kids are going to encounter in the big city. Suburban life seems safer and less toxic in general when it comes to raising kids. Melissa offers many advantages compared to living in a big metropolis.

At dusk, watch the night sky lit up by stars. This beautiful view is not as easy to see when you are in a big city. The nights can get pretty quiet and again, that’s a luxury in this day and age.

When you move into Melissa, expect suburban living where neighbors are kind, pop-and-mom stores are still around, and your local grocery store actually knows what brands of fresh produce you like and will often set aside a good piece for you. Everybody seemingly shares the same family doctor and you will most likely bump into friends in the grocery store or coffee shop.

There are plenty of fast food chains, gas stations, and other establishments for your convenience.

If you want a change of pace, you can visit McKinney, which is just 10 minutes away by car. Or you can take the DART and go to Dallas, which is just under an hour away.

The housing units here vary from $270,000 to $300,000. A typical detached house will cost somewhere around $280,000. Most of the houses have 3-4 bedrooms and 2-3 baths. You can also expect a large yard, which is typical of the suburbs. There are also mobile homes, if that is your thing, which will cost around $60,000 to $70,000.

Most of the houses are quite new, built within the last 30 years or so. Families on the lookout for houses with a lot of history may have a difficult time finding one here. But there are still a few houses that were built 50 or more years ago. Whenever you’re looking for its best to get the help of a homegrown real estate agent who knows the area well.

Melissa is a great place to raise kids. They will grow up forming a special bond with nature. That’s because you are surrounded by lots of green and wildlife. There are still ranches with plenty of livestock and horses. Just walk a while and you will find yourself in the woods.