Living in Mesquite, Texas

Mesquite is a large suburb east of Dallas known for its affordability and huge presence in the area's rodeo scene. It is increasingly pulling in young families, drawn to the newer affordable developments and the quality of the school district that serves as a major anchor for the area.

While Mesquite has grown and modernized, and is working hard building out its downtown, it still leans into its heritage as the “Rodeo Capital of Texas” and still hosts the Mesquite Championship Rodeo each summer. Housing costs here are lower than in many Dallas suburbs, making it an attractive choice for first-time buyers and anyone looking for more space without sacrificing quick access to city jobs and amenities.

Living in Mesquite offers a slower pace than Dallas but with enough shopping and dining to support locals throughout the week. Town East Mall is the biggest retail hub, and Dallas is less than 15 miles away when you need variety in food or shopping. The city has invested heavily in parks — with over 70 public parks, sports complexes, and trails like the Mesquite Heritage Trail so you get a nice outdoor lifestyle close to the big city.

Mesquite’s location along I-30, I-635, and Highway 80 makes commuting into Dallas or nearby job centers straightforward, though traffic can be rough during rush hours. The community calendar is full of local events, from rodeo season (it's status as the rodeo capital is well-documented) to holiday parades, reinforcing its appeal to families.

To see what locals do for fun, check out the Mesquite Calendar of Events.

We highly recommend visiting Mesquite and staying in the community at a VRBO instead of a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can also receive discounted fares on travel through our partnership with Expedia.

Plenty of locals commute to Dallas, Garland, or other surrounding cities, but Mesquite also has its own employment base in retail, healthcare, education, and logistics. The Mesquite Independent School District is a major local employer, and the city benefits from its proximity to distribution hubs along major highways.

While there’s not a large corporate job market here, remote workers benefit from affordable housing and space for home offices, plus quick highway access when in-person meetings are required.

Mesquite is also developing a 235-acre retail and business development space that will include shopping, dining, lifestyle, and business tenants. This will give Mesquite even more work-life opportunities in the city and more social and basic amenities for work-from-homers.