Celina vs Melissa: the data, side by side
Melissa's typical home value is $95,803 lower than Celina's ($430,722 vs $526,525, Zillow ZHVI, June 2026). On the computed commute grid, Melissa posts the shorter free-flow drive to 8 of the six tracked employment centers. Which trade wins depends on your workplace and budget — the Fit Engine scores it for your exact profile.
Verified facts
| Celina | Melissa | |
|---|---|---|
| County | Collin / Denton | Collin |
| Population (Census Vintage 2024) | 51,661 | 26,194 |
| Typical home value (Zillow ZHVI, June 2026) | $526,525 | $430,722 |
| Typical rent (Zillow ZORI, June 2026) | $1,986 | $1,927 |
Counties: Celina — Collin / Denton; Melissa — Collin. Property tax depends on the taxing units at each address, not the city line alone — see how Texas property tax works.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates · Zillow ZHVI/ZORI June 2026 · OSRM commute grid 2026-08-09 · full methodology
Commutes compared
| Destination | Celina | Melissa |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy West | 27 | 29 |
| Frisco (The Star) | 29 | 30 |
| Las Colinas | 53 | 52 |
| DFW Airport | 55 | 55 |
| Downtown Dallas | 52 | 45 |
| Downtown Fort Worth | 75 | 75 |
| Richardson CityLine | 45 | 29 |
| Addison | 39 | 41 |
| Medical District | 52 | 51 |
| AllianceTexas | 82 | 82 |
| Cypress Waters | 52 | 51 |
Free-flow driving minutes (OSRM model, computed 2026-08-09). Peak-hour drives run meaningfully higher.
Where the commute actually decides it
The employment centers where these two diverge most, free-flow model.
- Richardson CityLine — Melissa is 16 min closer (29 vs 45 min)
- Downtown Dallas — Melissa is 7 min closer (45 vs 52 min)
- Legacy West — Celina is 2 min closer (27 vs 29 min)
Which one fits your household?
- Celina: choose it if your commute anchors to Legacy West (27 vs 29 min), Addison (39 vs 41 min) — it wins 3 of the 11 tracked centers.
- Melissa: choose it if your commute anchors to Richardson CityLine (29 vs 45 min), Downtown Dallas (45 vs 52 min) — it wins 5 of the 11 tracked centers.
- If budget leads: Melissa typically prices $95,803 lower (June 2026); for renters, Melissa's typical rent is lower ($1,927 vs $1,986).
- Two workplaces? The Fit Engine weighs both commutes and your budget band together.
Communities to shortlist
In Celina: Wilson Creek Meadows · Apline Ten55 · Bluewood · Carter Ranch
In Melissa: Auburndale · Del Webb at Trinity Falls · Prose Stoneridge · The Preserve at Honey Creek
Every community page carries its own computed commute grid; the full rosters live on the city profiles.
Score it for your profile
Your workplace, ceiling, and budget band decide this comparison — not our opinion.
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Get matchedCity profiles: Celina · Melissa
Adjacent decisions
Allen vs Celina · Allen vs Melissa · Anna vs Celina · Anna vs Melissa · Celina vs Coppell · Celina vs Flower Mound
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