The rapid growth of North Texas, particularly in cities like Frisco and Celina, highlights an ongoing affordability crisis in the housing market. Frisco has expanded dramatically from about 33,000 residents at the start of the century to over 200,000 today, attracting businesses and families alike. However, as home prices rise, many potential buyers are being pushed to newer areas like Celina, located about 12 miles north of Frisco, in search of more affordable options.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, now the fourth-largest in the nation with approximately 8.5 million residents, continues to grow by over 100,000 each year. Celina has emerged as a leader in this growth, experiencing nearly 25% population increase in just one year. The influx of corporate relocations, including 119 moves or expansions in the region in 2025, has contributed to this trend, driven by factors such as the absence of a state income tax and lower land costs.
Despite the cooling of home prices by about 5% in 2025, the median home price in the area remains around $400,000, significantly outpacing income growth. Over the past five years, typical mortgage payments have surged by 82%, while household incomes have only increased by 26%. Consequently, many first-time buyers and younger households are finding it increasingly difficult to enter the housing market, leading them to seek homes in the rapidly growing suburbs of North Texas.