De soto texas 1, c. 1911
DeSoto’s story
179 years in pictures
Census counts: 298 in 1950, 56,145 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1911 and 4 maps from 1959 on.
- 1847DeSoto is settled
Population
56,681
2025 Census estimate · +1% since 2020
Typical home
$319K
−1.2% in a year
Household income
$83K
median
Median age
41.9
years
Jobs based here
14,678
A commuter town
TownGrade
D
#561 of 640 in TX
Is DeSoto a good place to live?
DeSoto grades D overall, 561st among Texas's 640 graded towns, mostly because of schools. Its schools rank behind 85% of the state's. What it does well: the median household earns $83K. DeSoto’s July high is 95°F, near the Texas town median (95°F) and above the median of U.S. towns (85°F). Homes are expensive, about $319K for a typical one and 3.5 times the Dallas metro’s $90K median household income. The biggest park or preserve is Grimes Park, at 47 acres.
What makes DeSoto stand out
Where DeSoto beats most towns.
A growing town
DeSoto has grown 16% since 2010
49,047 counted in 2010 and 56,145 in 2020; an estimated 56,681 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How DeSoto grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Texas), ordered by how far DeSoto is from typical.
Cost of livingDOpen →SchoolsC−Open →SafetyCOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →Jobs & incomeBOpen →HealthMethodist Charlton Medical Center 3.4 miles awayC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.2 of 20; 4.1% of households have no car; 0.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors7 miles of trails; 4% conserved landBOpen →History15 notable people born hereCOpen →Civic life1.3 library visits per resident; 6.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 96° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market49 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.9–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 83 attractions →AT&T Stadium and 75 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around DeSoto. Close and well known come first.
Big draw17 mi Stadium & arenaAT&T Stadium
Big draw14 mi Stadium & arenaCotton Bowl
Big draw16 mi Stadium & arenaGlobe Life Field
Big draw17 mi Stadium & arenaTexas Stadium
16 mi Theme parkSix Flags Over Texas
17 mi Stadium & arenaChoctaw StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
AT&T Stadium: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cotton Bowl: Robbiewest88, Public domain · Globe Life Field: Drone To Fly, CC BY 3.0 · Texas Stadium: Allspamme, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Six Flags Over Texas: Chris Hagerman from New Port Richey, FL, US, CC BY 2.0 · Choctaw Stadium: KENGRIFFEY24FAN, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to DeSoto: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in DeSoto, and how to reach them.
PowerOncorEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Desoto water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDallas County Early Voting ClerkDallas County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jan 2024
ZIP code7511575115 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in DeSoto.
DeSoto has hotter summers than nearly all U.S. towns and has home values still below their peak, but it has a long record of flood insurance claims.
SchoolsC−
For schools, DeSoto earns a C−
Its public schools are run by Desoto ISD. Two of its 18 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
15%of TX districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uplift Gradus Prep PSLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 597 | C− |
| Desoto H SLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,936 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TX on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Most of DeSoto’s workers commute out: the town has 0.6 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave DeSoto for work: only 5% work in town. The average trip to work in DeSoto is 31 minutes. Jobs based in DeSoto grew to 14,678 in 2023, 2,373 more than in 2013.
5%work in town
| DeSoto | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 17% | 9.6% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 12% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.9% | 8.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In DeSoto5%
Dallas35%
Irving6%
Arlington5%
Fort Worth4%
17 mi
median commute distance
14,678
jobs based in DeSoto
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 57% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
#254for trails in TX
| DeSoto | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 3.6% | 1.9% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
3.6%
conserved · 496 of 13,811 acres
7.2 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Zeigler Park | 1.1 mi | 24 |
| 2. Elerson Park | 0.4 mi | 20 |
| 3. Grimes Park | 0.3 mi | 47 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SafetyC
Crime per resident in DeSoto is higher than in 72% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 1,331 to 1,051 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
DeSoto’s property crime rate is 15.7 per 1,000 residents.
28%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| DeSoto | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 15.7 per 1,000 residents | 10.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.8 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
DeSoto2.8
Texas3.5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
DeSoto15.7
Texas18.1
U.S.15.5
28th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
32nd
percentile among TX towns
161
violent crimes reported in 2025
890
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
DeSoto has mild winters and hot summers
July afternoons average 95.2°, hotter than in 96% of U.S. towns; January nights average 36.7°.
DeSoto has mild winters and hot summers. Snow is almost unheard of.
96°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter39–59°
Spring55–76°
Summer74–94°
Fall57–78°
Nov 25
typical first frost
Mar 6
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
96°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Texas overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 43% of residents (38% statewide); children under 18 are 21% of residents (25% statewide). 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 34% across Texas.
41.9median age · TX 35.6
| DeSoto | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 21% | 26% | 22% |
| Median age | 41.9 years | 35.8 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 30% | 23% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 14% | 18% |
DeSotoTexasUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school25%
Some college29%
Associate’s8%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate13%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 88 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.9 points). Across Texas, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 44.5, men 38.7.
| DeSoto | TX | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.1% | 13.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.5% | 11.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.5% | 9.7% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.8% | 14.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.3% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 15.8% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.2% | 11.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.2% | 8.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.6% | 5.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.8% | 14% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.7% | 24.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 29% | 20.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.4% | 7.7% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.2% | 21.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.8% | 12.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in DeSoto
108 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 12 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 62% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 108 flood insurance claims have been paid out in DeSoto.
62risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat wavesHail
108
paid flood claims since 1979
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthC+
On CDC estimates, DeSoto is less healthy than 60% of U.S. towns
DeSoto beats the Texas average on 8 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 11. 18% of DeSoto adults have been diagnosed with depression. Among 641 Texas towns, just 8 have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than DeSoto.
40%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| DeSoto | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 22% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 35% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 81% | 74% | 79% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 16% |
31 measures vs. Texas
8 better12 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | DeSoto | TX |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 14% | 19.1% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 13.8% | 17% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.3% | 3.2% |
Methodist Charlton Medical Center
3.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
54th
percentile among TX towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade D
For cost of living, DeSoto earns a D
The typical value, about $319K, is 8% below its August 2022 peak. 69.5% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 51.7% across Texas.
The typical DeSoto home is worth about $319,000, down 1.2% in a year, 8% above the Texas typical home.
$319KZillow home value
| DeSoto | Texas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,666 a month | $1,206 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 69% | 73% |
Typical home value
DeSoto$319K
Texas$296K
Market temperature
49
days on market
98.3%
sale-to-list price
−1.2%
value change, 1 year
32
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about DeSoto
20pages on DeSoto
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 85% of TX districts · 18 schoolsSafetyC2.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC+Better than TX on 8 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingD$319K typical home · down 1.2% in a yearWork & commuteB$83K median household income · 14,678 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 62% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
9 within 15 miles of the center of DeSoto
University of North Texas at DallasUniversity or college · Public · Dallas5.4 mi$9,595 in-state tuitionPaul Quinn CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Dallas8.3 mi$13,498 tuitionDallas Baptist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Dallas9.1 mi$40,190 tuition
About 6 of every 100 DeSoto residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Texas.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave DeSoto for work
Where DeSoto’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
14,678jobs based in DeSoto
5%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from DeSoto
15 notable people were born in DeSoto.
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About DeSoto
City in the United States
DeSoto is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. DeSoto is a suburb of Dallas and is part of the Best Southwest area, which includes DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Duncanville, and Lancaster. As of the 2020 census, DeSoto had a population of 56,145.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1847
- Area
- 22 sq mi
- Elevation
- 666 ft
- ZIP code
- 75115, 75123
- Area code
- 972
DeSoto’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with DeSoto.
DuncanvilleGlenn HeightsDallasCedar HillLancasterDeSoto
How the neighbors grade
| Town | TX rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto | #561 | D | D | C | C− | C+ |
| Duncanville | #515 | D | C− | C− | C− | C+ |
| Glenn Heights | #459 | D | D | B− | C | C+ |
| Dallas | #567 | D | C− | D | C− | C+ |
| Cedar Hill | #483 | D | D | C+ | C− | B− |
| Lancaster | #601 | D− | C− | D | C | C |
Questions about DeSoto
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is DeSoto, TX a good place to live?
DeSoto grades D overall, better than 6% of U.S. towns and #561 of 640 in Texas. It grades C+ for health, C for safety and C− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is DeSoto, TX expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is DeSoto, TX known for?
15 notable people were born here, including Jordan Walsh and Cyrus Gray.