Baytown, TX vs Mesquite, TX

Baytown is moderately more affordable than Mesquite, with a 10.2% lower cost of living index. Baytown scores 87 compared to 97 for Mesquite, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Mesquite can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Baytown is $1,217/month compared to $1,407/month in Mesquite — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Baytown is more affordable at $187,900 median vs $226,500.

Median household income in Baytown is $61,699 compared to $71,843 in Mesquite (-14.1%). While Mesquite is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Baytown spend roughly 23.7% of their income on rent, more than the 23.5% in Mesquite.