Neighborhood in Fate, Rockwall County

Living in Melody Ranch, Fate

D+

7th of 7areas in Fate
Overall score 27 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Fate overall: B

Melody Ranch is a neighborhood in Fate, TX, home to about 2,900 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 7th of 7 areas we score in Fate. It does best on home ownership and worst on getting around.

  • Lots of parks
  • Getting around scores low (20 of 100)
  • Tornado risk is very high

Closest everyday places

Grocery store2.5 mi
Pharmacy1.3 mi
Park0.5 mi
Cafe1.3 mi
Restaurant0.4 mi
Gym1.3 mi
Hospital or urgent care1.3 mi
Childcare1.1 mi
Library4.3 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
2,880
Median rent
$2,100
Median home value
$397,000
Household income
$123,000
Average commute
42 min
Homes owned
81%
Loading map

What it's like to live in Melody Ranch

Melody Ranch is a neighborhood in Fate with about 2,900 residents, mostly newer homes (median year built 2014), mostly owner-occupied (81%) and 38% of households with children.

Our grade for Melody Ranch is D+. That puts it 7th of 7 areas we grade in Fate, a city that gets a B overall.

Pros of living in Melody Ranch

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $2,100, 16% lower than the Fate median.

Cons of living in Melody Ranch

  • Higher poverty. 20% of residents live below the poverty line, against 3.6% across Fate.
  • Groceries are a drive. The nearest grocery store is about 2.5 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Longer commutes. The average commute is 42 minutes, against 35 for Fate as a whole.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of tornadoes, heat waves and hail as very high in this part of town.

Melody Ranch report card

Each grade compares Melody Ranch with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade D+

    Median rent $2,100, homes cost 3.2x income.

    25 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade C

    Median household income $123,000, 6.2% unemployed.

    40 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade C

    Nearby schools average 79 of 100 on the state rating.

    43 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 112 violent crimes per 100k, 303 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade D

    Few everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    24 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade D

    Average commute 42 min, 7.4% work from home.

    20 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade C

    33% have a bachelor’s degree.

    46 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade C-

    16% of adults uninsured.

    37 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade A-

    81% of homes owner-occupied.

    83 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade A-

    99% of homes have broadband.

    81 of 100 vs TX areas

Melody Ranch compared with Fate

Better than Fate

  • Median rent: $2,10016% lower than Fate ($2,500)
  • Vacant homes: 0%5 points lower than Fate (5.2%)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 2.9%2 points higher than Fate (0.8%)

Worse than Fate

  • Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent: 70%18 points higher than Fate (52%)
  • People below the poverty line: 20%17 points higher than Fate (3.6%)
  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 81%11 points lower than Fate (92%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • CLupe Garcia ElementaryElementary, Rockwall ISD1 mi
  • CBobby Summers MiddleMiddle, Royse City ISD2.5 mi
  • BRoyse City High SchoolHigh, Royse City ISD5.6 mi

Cost of living in Melody Ranch

Median rent in Melody Ranch is $2,100 a month, 16% lower than the Fate median. A household would need about $84,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $397,000, about the same as the Fate median, which means a monthly payment of about $2,657 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereFateTexas
Median rent16% lower than Fate$2,100$2,500$1,403
Median home value3% higher than Fate$397,000$384,300$283,800
Home value to income11% higher than Fate3.2x2.9x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent18 points higher than Fate70%52%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them11 points lower than Fate81%92%63%
Vacant homes5 points lower than Fate0%5.2%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Fate201420131992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$2,657
Mortgage payment
$2,173
Property tax
$484
Median rent, for comparison
$2,100

Based on a $397,000 home in Melody Ranch, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereFateTexas
Median household income7% lower than Fate$123,000$132,752$78,476
Unemployment rateAbout the same as Fate6.2%5.4%5.3%
People below the poverty line17 points higher than Fate20%3.6%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher10 points lower than Fate33%42%34%
Average commute20% higher than Fate42 min35 min27 min
Workers who work from home10 points lower than Fate7.4%17%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit2 points higher than Fate2.9%0.8%2.6%
Homes with broadband internetAbout the same as Fate99%98%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingLow
  • HurricanesLow
  • TornadoesVery high
  • HailVery high
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresVery high
  • Winter stormsLow
  • Strong windHigh

Who lives in Melody Ranch

Under 1822%
18 to 3425%
35 to 6446%
65 and over6.9%
Race and ethnicity
White49%
Hispanic or Latino32%
Black13%
Asian3.1%
Other or more than one race3.1%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Fate

  1. 1AMonterra
  2. 2A-WoodcreekMedian rent $2,570
  3. 3B+AvondaleMedian rent $1,190
  4. 4B+Chamberlain CrossingMedian rent $2,870
  5. 5C+Spring MeadowMedian rent $2,090
  6. 6D+Luby AcresMedian rent $2,730

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. C-Northwest Fort WorthFort Worth
  2. B-Fox RunArlington
  3. D-Southeast Cedar HillCedar Hill

Questions about Melody Ranch

Is Melody Ranch a good place to live?

Melody Ranch is a neighborhood in Fate, TX, home to about 2,900 people. It gets a D+, in the bottom third of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 7th of 7 areas we score in Fate. It does best on home ownership and worst on getting around.

How much does it cost to live in Melody Ranch?

Renters in Melody Ranch pay a median of $2,100 a month, 16% lower than the Fate median. The median home is worth $397,000, 3% higher than the Fate median. A median home costs 3.2x the median household income, compared with 2.9x across Fate.

What schools serve Melody Ranch?

The closest rated public schools are Lupe Garcia Elementary (elementary, rated C), Bobby Summers Middle (middle, rated C) and Royse City High School (high, rated B). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 1 Census block group closest to the Melody Ranch name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.