2026 Melissa community guide · Collin County
An A-rated school district, a close-knit community and an easy drive to McKinney where US-75 meets SH-121.
By Shayla Eadler, Broker & Owner (TREC #747934) · Updated
For sale now
Melissa homes range from established master plans like Liberty to new construction in Legacy Ranch, Meadow Run and Brookfield. Start with the latest listings or a popular search.
01Overview
Melissa is one of the strongest all-around choices in north Collin County. Melissa ISD earned an A (92) from TEA in 2025, the combined tax rate (about 1.91%) is the lowest of the US-75 towns north of McKinney, and McKinney is about 11 minutes away. The trade-offs are higher prices than Anna, schools racing to keep up with growth, and rush-hour traffic on US-75 and SH-121.
Melissa was laid out at a Houston & Texas Central Railroad depot in 1872, though settlers had farmed the area since the 1840s. The town survived a 1921 tornado and a 1929 fire, stayed small for decades and incorporated in 1975.
Since then it has transformed. The Census Bureau ranked Melissa the fourth-fastest-growing U.S. city of 20,000 or more in 2025, with an estimated 29,969 residents, more than double the 2020 Census count of 13,901. Buyers are drawn by Melissa ISD, established neighborhoods like Liberty and new ones like Legacy Ranch, and a growing retail corridor that now includes an H-E-B and a Buc-ee’s.
Its location where US-75 meets SH-121 (the north end of the Sam Rayburn Tollway) makes it the closest of the northern towns to McKinney, Allen, Frisco and the Legacy job centers.
Melissa ISD also serves small parts of McKinney and Weston, and Willow Wood homes may have a McKinney or Melissa address. Confirm the city and school district for every address, since city tax rates differ.
02Honest take
What we tell our own clients before they make a move.
Pros
Cons
03Where to live
Melissa has a mix of established master plans and new construction. These are the neighborhoods buyers ask about most.
Hillwood’s 535-acre master plan of about 1,855 homes, with a sports pavilion, resort-style pool, splash pad, two catch-and-release ponds and trails. Harry McKillop Elementary is inside the community. Fully built out.
Homes near LibertyOn Melissa’s west side near SH-121 and US-75, with pools, a splash pad, playgrounds and trails.
Homes near Legacy RanchJust north of McKinney, with a pool, clubhouse, playground and trails. Builders market it as having no MUD or PID taxes.
Homes near Meadow RunFirst Texas Homes’ Select Series community.
Homes near BrookfieldAn older, established area with larger lots and mature trees.
Homes near Country RidgeA planned 652-home community on 268 acres, with the first finished lots due to builders in early 2027.
Homes near Riverstone EstatesWillow Wood, south of town, is served by Melissa ISD’s Willow Wood Elementary, though some addresses there are in McKinney city limits. Berry Farms and Vineyard Hills Estates (a new PID) are also worth asking about.
| Community | Builders | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy Ranch | Bloomfield | Classic 55 and 60 series |
| Meadow Run | Ashton Woods, Pacesetter | About $438K–$543K |
| Brookfield | First Texas Homes | About $365K–$435K |
| Riverstone Estates | Perry, Drees, Homebound | Lots due early 2027 |
Builders and incentives change often. Bring us to your first model-home visit and we’ll represent you, not the builder. How we help new-build buyers →
04Market
Zillow’s typical Melissa home value was about $422,500 in September 2026, down about 5.4% from a year earlier and roughly 18% below the 2022 peak. In ZIP 75454, Realtor.com counted 153 active listings at a median list price of $475,000, with a median of 72 days on market and about 43% of listings showing a price cut.
For buyers, that is an opportunity to get into Melissa ISD at better prices than a few years ago. For sellers, condition and pricing against nearby new construction matter more than ever.
Live from the NTREIS MLS for homes in Melissa (houses, townhomes and condos). Sold figures cover the last 60 days.
Monthly Melissa market report with trends Compare Melissa with nearby towns
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05Budget
For 2025, Melissa’s combined rate is about $1.91 per $100: the city ($0.454116), Melissa ISD ($1.2245), Collin County and Collin College. That is the lowest total of the US-75 towns north of McKinney, and the city lists only one PID (Vineyard Hills Estates).
For 2026, the city’s no-new-revenue rate is $0.477065, so the city rate may rise slightly. Confirm the adopted rate before you budget.
| Taxing unit | Rate per $100 of value |
|---|---|
| City of Melissa (2025) | $0.454116 |
| Melissa ISD (2025) | $1.224500 |
| Collin County (2025) | $0.149343 |
| Collin College | $0.081220 |
| Typical total | ≈ $1.91 |
At about 1.91% before exemptions, a $422,000 home would owe roughly $8,050 a year. The city also offers a 6% homestead exemption and $30,000 for over-65 and disabled homeowners.
Melissa ISD’s 2025 bond keeps the debt rate at $0.50, but the state’s larger homestead exemption may delay new campuses by about two years. Ask us about school zoning in the newest phases.
| Service | Provider |
|---|---|
| Electricity | Oncor (choose a retail provider) or Grayson-Collin Electric Co-op in parts of the area |
| Water & sewer | City of Melissa (NTMWD water via GTUA) |
Tax rates are the adopted 2025 rates and change every year. Verify any address with the Collin Central Appraisal District before you buy. Estimate your payment →
06Education
Melissa ISD serves Melissa plus small parts of Weston and McKinney. TEA rated the district A (92) in 2025, with Melissa High School at A (94) and nearly every campus rated A. The district opened East Cardinal Middle School and Highland Elementary in 2025 and Cardinal Renaissance Academy in 2026, and plans one high school at buildout.
Voters approved an $875 million bond in May 2025 for an early childhood center, three to five elementary schools, a middle school and a ninth-grade center.
| School district | What to know |
|---|---|
| Melissa ISD | All of Melissa; A (92) district and A (94) high school in 2025. |
School boundaries change as districts grow. We confirm the assigned campuses for every home before you make an offer.
07Location
Melissa sits between US-75 and SH-121, with SH-5 through the center and FM-545 running east to west. It is a member of the McKinney Urban Transit District, which offers Collin County Transit rides for eligible residents; there is no fixed-route service.
| Destination | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown McKinney | ~7 mi | About 11 min |
| Legacy West, Plano | ~23 mi | 29 min off-peak |
| Frisco | ~22 mi | 32 min off-peak |
| Downtown Dallas | ~40 mi | 47 min off-peak |
| DFW Airport | ~44 mi | About 53 min |
Drive times are typical off-peak estimates. Allow more time at rush hour.
08Lifestyle
A free annual festival with live music, food trucks and vendors each September.
A tree lighting with fireworks to start the holiday season.
One of Melissa’s city parks, plus community pools and trails in Liberty and Legacy Ranch.
A 136,000-sq-ft store with a two-level True Texas BBQ at US-75 and SH-121.
Dining, shopping and festivals about 11 minutes south.
A 289-acre wildlife sanctuary in McKinney, about 15 minutes away.
09Everyday life
Melissa is growing its own job base along US-75 and SH-121, led by Melissa ISD, Redden Concrete, Buc-ee’s and the new H-E-B, while most residents commute to McKinney, Allen, Plano or Frisco.
10Quick answers
Melissa pairs an A-rated school district (TEA A, 92, in 2025) with fast growth, a lower combined tax rate than its neighbors and an 11-minute drive to McKinney. The trade-offs are higher prices than Anna and schools racing to keep up with growth.
By state ratings, yes: the district earned an A (92) in 2025 and Melissa High School an A (94). Voters approved an $875 million bond in May 2025 for new schools.
Collin County, about 6 miles north of McKinney between US-75 and SH-121.
About 40 miles to downtown Dallas, roughly 47 minutes without traffic. DFW Airport is about 44 miles (about 53 minutes).
About $1.91 per $100 for 2025 (city $0.454116, Melissa ISD $1.2245, Collin County $0.149343, Collin College $0.08122). The city’s 2026 no-new-revenue rate was about $0.477.
Zillow’s typical home value was about $422,000 in September 2026, down about 5% year over year. Realtor.com’s median list price for 75454 was $475,000.
Yes. A 136,000-square-foot H-E-B opened May 14, 2025, at US-75 and SH-121.
Liberty (with an elementary school inside the community), Legacy Ranch, Meadow Run, Brookfield and the older, larger-lot Country Ridge.
Crime statistics are published by the Melissa Police Department. We encourage every buyer to review the data for the specific area they are considering and to visit at different times of day. As agents, we share data sources rather than opinions about which neighborhoods are “safe.”
About this guide. Written by Shayla Eadler, Licensed Broker & Owner of Ten Twenty Realty (TREC #0747934), and reviewed October 2026. Facts come from public sources, including: U.S. Census Bureau (Vintage 2025), City of Melissa tax rates, Melissa ISD, TEA 2025 ratings, H-E-B Newsroom, Zillow home value index.
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Bridgette serves buyers and sellers across Collin County and the Metroplex, and helps Melissa buyers compare neighborhoods, school zones and new-build incentives.
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