Melissa vs The Colony: the data, side by side
The Colony's typical home value is $24,511 lower than Melissa's ($406,211 vs $430,722, Zillow ZHVI, June 2026). On the computed commute grid, The Colony posts the shorter free-flow drive to 11 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
| Melissa | The Colony | |
|---|---|---|
| County | Collin | Denton |
| Population (Census Vintage 2024) | 26,194 | 45,897 |
| Typical home value (Zillow ZHVI, June 2026) | $430,722 | $406,211 |
| Typical rent (Zillow ZORI, June 2026) | $1,927 | $1,891 |
Counties: Melissa — Collin; The Colony — Denton. 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 | Melissa | The Colony |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy West | 29 | 10 |
| Frisco (The Star) | 30 | 10 |
| Las Colinas | 52 | 29 |
| DFW Airport | 55 | 29 |
| Downtown Dallas | 45 | 36 |
| Downtown Fort Worth | 75 | 49 |
| Richardson CityLine | 29 | 29 |
| Addison | 41 | 22 |
| Medical District | 51 | 35 |
| AllianceTexas | 82 | 56 |
| Cypress Waters | 51 | 28 |
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.
- DFW Airport — The Colony is 26 min closer (29 vs 55 min)
- Downtown Fort Worth — The Colony is 26 min closer (49 vs 75 min)
- AllianceTexas — The Colony is 26 min closer (56 vs 82 min)
Which one fits your household?
- Melissa: posts no commute edge at any tracked center — its case is price or area preference.
- The Colony: choose it if your commute anchors to DFW Airport (29 vs 55 min), Downtown Fort Worth (49 vs 75 min) — it wins 10 of the 11 tracked centers.
- If budget leads: The Colony typically prices $24,511 lower (June 2026); for renters, The Colony's typical rent is lower ($1,891 vs $1,927).
- Two workplaces? The Fit Engine weighs both commutes and your budget band together.
Communities to shortlist
In Melissa: Auburndale · Del Webb at Trinity Falls · Prose Stoneridge · The Preserve at Honey Creek
In The Colony: Austin Ridge at Lone Star Ranch · Austin Waters · Avignon Windhaven · Creekside at Austin Waters
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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Adjacent decisions
Allen vs Melissa · Allen vs The Colony · Anna vs Melissa · Celina vs Melissa · Celina vs The Colony · Coppell vs The Colony
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