Forest Hill receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Forest Hill
Mesquite
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 41%
vs52 · Bottom 42%
Growth
51 · Top 49%
vs55 · Top 42%
Climate
68 · Bottom 41%
vs63 · Bottom 29%
Physical resilience
56 · Bottom 48%
vs53 · Bottom 46%
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 35%
vs80 · Bottom 48%
Access
92 · Top 50%
vs95 · Top 35%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 30%
vs60 · Top 50%
Measured values
| Metric | Forest Hill | Mesquite | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,062 | 149,299 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,457 | $72,537 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $25,326 | $29,877 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,371/sq mi | 3,040/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $187,400 | $245,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,763 | $1,513 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.4% | 62.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.3% | -0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 19.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 13.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 8 | 464 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.6 | 3.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 166.7% | -22.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 97°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 36.2" | 38.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 35.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.2 | 32.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Forest Hill
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Mesquite
Elevated or high exposure: hail, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Forest Hill
63
Your Score
60
Area Score
Mesquite
62
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Forest Hill, TX · Mesquite, TX · How this is calculated: methodology