Suburban city 14 miles east of Dallas known as the “Rodeo Capital of Texas”
Mesquite, the official “Rodeo Capital of Texas,” is a growing suburban city 14 miles east of Dallas. It may be world-famous for its steer roping, barrel racing and bronc riding. Still, it’s also popular among locals for its highly-rated school district, suburban homes and nearby shopping and amenities. It’s traversed by several major highways, making it an attractive spot for commuters.
Mesquite's population is around 150,000, making it the 21st most populous city in the state. As the Dallas-Fort Worth area has expanded, it’s steadily added new residents over the years, gaining about 25,000 since 2000. The construction of many new subdivisions and single-family homes has accompanied its quick growth.
“Mesquite has a mix of local employment opportunities as well as easy access to major job hubs in Dallas and the surrounding areas,” says Madison Doss, a Realtor with Ebby Halliday Realtors. “Some of the biggest employers in the city include the Mesquite ISD, United Parcel Service (UPS), the City of Mesquite and Dallas Regional Medical Center. The retail and healthcare sectors are also significant in the local economy.” Wes Houx, a Realtor with eXp Realty with 10 years experience in the area adds, “It’s a great place for young entrepreneurs.”
You can catch the thrill of the annual Mesquite Championship Rodeo Finals in Valley View.
Town East Park in Town East Estates serves of the biggest park and draw for families alike.
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Median prices lower than the Metroplex average
Homes in Mesquite are predominantly in close-knit subdivisions. There’s a mix of newer, contemporary-style dwellings and older housing developments with ranch homes built between the 1950s and 1980s. “We are seeing a lot of renovations in that area,” Houx says. Sidewalks, wide, tree-lined streets and landscaped front lawns are typical in the area. The median sales price in Mesquite is $295,000, lower than the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area average of $399,000, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center. “The Mesquite housing market has seen steady growth over the past few years, with home values rising as more people discover the benefits of living here,” Doss says. “It remains more affordable compared to nearby Dallas, making it an attractive option for first-time buyers and families.”
Mesquite Highlands’ new homes blend contemporary finishes with open layouts.
Homeowners in Valley Creek take pride in their community.
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From the Mesquite Heritage Trail to Paschall Park
Mesquite is home to over 70 parks, including the Mesquite Heritage Trail, which is 4 miles long winding through the city. The trail connects with neighborhoods, shopping plazas and the Mesquite Golf Club. There’s also the Debusk Trail and Debusk Park, which has a playground, grills and plenty of open green space. Paschall Park is one of the larger parks in the city and includes an 18-hole disc golf course. Avid golfers can tee up on the fairways at Mesquite Golf Club, a municipal, 18-hole course with a snack bar, driving range and pro shop. In the summer, residents can cool off at City Lake Aquatic Center.
Entertainment options in the city include the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, which holds events every Saturday from June through August. The Texas State Legislature named Mesquite the Official Rodeo Capital of Texas in 1993, and the city has hosted more events than any other city in the state. “The Mesquite Championship Rodeo really gives Mesquite a unique charm and identity,” Doss says. “It’s a piece of Texas culture that locals are proud of, and it brings visitors from all over.”
The Mesquite Arts Center offers performances by the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra and Community Band and productions from the Mesquite Community Theater.
The Mesquite Heritage Trail consists of 4.25 miles of concrete trails and sidewalks.
Residents of La Prada enjoy spending the day at Mesquite Golf Club on sunny days.
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Students attend the Mesquite Independent School District
Students here attend the Mesquite Independent School District, which earns a B-plus grade from Niche. Mesquite High School is known for its football program. “While Mesquite doesn’t host professional sports teams, it has a strong high school sports culture, especially with its football games, which bring the community together on Friday nights,” Doss says. As for private options, the Dallas Christian School is in Mesquite, serves pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and earns an A grade from Niche.
Mesquite students attend Mesuite High School which earns a B-plus from Niche.
Mesquites Dallas Christian School earns a A grade from Niche for top tier education.
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From PumpkinFest to Christmas in the Park
“Mesquite also hosts many seasonal events, like the Christmas in the Park festival and the annual PumpkinFest,” Doss says. “These gatherings make it feel like a close-knit community and give residents of all ages something to look forward to each season.” Christmas in the Park takes place at Westlake Park every December and includes hot cocoa, cookies, photos with Santa and a Santa sendoff with fireworks. PumpkinFest is held at Pachall Park, where there is a pumpkin pie eating contest, a magic show, and a family and pet costume contest.
Christmas in the Park is hosted annually in Mesquite at Westlake Park.
Paschall Park is home to disc golf, a baseball field and walking/biking trails in Mesquite.
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Home to three Interstates
Mesquite is traversed by several major highways — it sits at the intersection of Interstate 30 and Interstate 635, which offer connections to Dallas, Garland and Fort Worth. Interstate 20 runs through the city's southern portion and connects it to everything south of Dallas and Fort Worth. STAR Transit offers a bus service in Mesquite that brings passengers to Dallas’ DART light rail stations. The nearest stations are Lawnview Station, Lake June Station and Buckner Station, about 10 miles from Mesquite. For air travel, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is about 31 miles west and offers nonstop international and domestic flights to New York, Los Angeles, Cancun, Tokyo and Italy. The city’s hospital is the Dallas Regional Medical Center Mesquite.
From Downtown Mesquite to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo
Downtown Mesquite offers residents a small, walkable area with several shops and restaurants, including Mesquite BBQ, a popular institution since 1959. It’s also where the Downtown Mesquite Farmer’s Market takes place every Saturday between April and November, and where the city holds the annual Mesquite Rodeo Parade every April. At the northwestern edge of Mesquite, residents will find lots of shopping at Town East Mall. This indoor shopping destination includes department stores like Dillard’s, JCPenney, Macy’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods, while outlying parcels include a variety of restaurants and big box stores.
Mesquite BBQ in Downtown Mesquite is famous for their BBQ and their patented smoker.
Valley View locals love the variety of shops and restaurants at Town East Mall.
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Mesquite crime and weather
According to the Mesquite Police Department, the city’s property crime rate was 306 offenses per 100,000 residents, higher than the state and national averages. Over that same span, the violent crime rate was 181 offenses per 100,000 residents, higher than the state and national averages.
As for weather, Mesquite’s position in North Texas makes it prone to extreme heat during the summer months. According to Climate Check, just 10 percent of homes in the city are at risk of flooding, while 75 percent are at risk of fire.
On average, homes in Mesquite, TX sell after 63 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Mesquite, TX over the last 12 months is $299,500, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Brenda Patton is an Associate Broker of the Patton Williams Team at Ebby Halliday Real Estate, the No.1 real estate firm in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, No.1 in Texas and No. 9 in the nation, as listed by REAL Trends, Inc. With over 70 years of success helping buyers and sellers throughout the Metroplex realize their dream of homeownership, the Ebby Home Team has become one of the largest and best-known residential real estate firms in the country.
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