If you are looking along US-75 north of McKinney, you will probably compare Van Alstyne, Anna and Melissa. They are only minutes apart, but they feel different — and the right one depends on what you want day to day.
Van Alstyne: small town with room to grow
My home. A walkable downtown, Friday-night Panthers football and a real mix of new subdivisions, custom homes on an acre and true acreage just outside town.
It is the most “small town” of the three, with a downtown that still feels like a hometown square and the most acreage close by. It is also where my family and I chose to put down roots.
Anna: newer homes and great value
Anna has grown quickly with new construction and is a favorite for first-time buyers. You get newer homes at fair prices with quick access to McKinney and Van Alstyne.
Anna is growing fast, and new shopping and restaurants have followed the rooftops. If you want a newer home with a builder warranty and a shorter drive to McKinney, Anna is often where the numbers work best.
Melissa: the school district draw
Melissa ISD is a big reason families choose Melissa. Homes tend to run a little higher, and many newer neighborhoods carry MUD or PID taxes, so compare total tax rates.
Melissa sits where SH-121 meets US-75, which makes the drive to McKinney, Allen and Plano easy.
Van Alstyne vs. Anna vs. Melissa at a glance
- Feel: Van Alstyne is the small town, Anna is the fast-growing value pick, and Melissa is the suburban school-district favorite.
- Homes: all three have new construction; Van Alstyne has the most acreage nearby.
- Taxes: compare the total rate for each address — MUD and PID districts are common in newer neighborhoods in all three towns.
- Commute: Melissa is closest to McKinney and Allen, Anna is next, and Van Alstyne is about 20 minutes to McKinney.
Before you choose, check each district’s state rating on TXschools.gov and confirm the campus for the exact address. The Texas Comptroller explains how city, county, school and MUD rates add up.
How I help you decide
- A driving tour of all three towns on one afternoon
- A side-by-side of tax rates, HOA dues and commute times
- Listing alerts set up for the neighborhoods you like best
Which town fits your budget?
In general, Anna offers the most new-construction home for the money, Melissa tends to cost a little more for its school district and newer amenities, and Van Alstyne ranges the widest — from starter homes to custom homes and acreage. The real answer depends on the exact neighborhood and its tax rate, so I build a side-by-side for the price range you have in mind, with recent sales from each town.
My honest pick for different buyers
- First-time buyers who want a newer home: start in Anna.
- Families focused on schools and a shorter drive south: look hard at Melissa.
- Buyers who want land, a real downtown or a slower pace: Van Alstyne.
- Not sure yet: spend one afternoon touring all three with me — the right fit usually becomes obvious.
All three towns share the same US-75 corridor, the same fast growth and the same need to compare total tax rates, and all three are places I’d be proud to call home. I live in Van Alstyne, but I help buyers and sellers across all three, so you’ll get an honest comparison, not a sales pitch.
Read my full guides to Van Alstyne, Anna and Melissa for neighborhoods, schools and homes for sale.
Want the side-by-side for your budget? Schedule a call and I’ll put it together for you. Get in touch →
Shayla Eadler
Native Texan, wife, boy mom and the broker and owner of Ten Twenty Realty — helping North Texas families buy and sell homes, land and ranches since 2020.
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