A new income study has revealed Dallas' wealthiest aren't settling down in Lewisville anymore — they've set their sights on Mesquite, instead.

Mesquite had one of the highest growth rates of new wealthy residents nationwide in SmartAsset's new analysis, "Cities Adding the Most High-Income Households – 2026 Study."

Based on U.S. Census income data, SmartAsset's experts ranked 357 U.S. cities with at least 100,000 residents based on the growth in high-income households as a percentage of total households between 2023 and 2024. The report defines high-income households as those earning an income of at least $200,000.

Mesquite had the seventh-highest growth in wealthy households in Texas from 2023-2024, and it ranked No. 31 nationwide.

The report's findings show Mesquite had 2,186 high-income households in 2023. By the following year, the suburb had a 52.3 percent growth rate in wealthy earners, bringing the total number of high-income households to 3,717.

A total 6.7 percent of all Mesquite households made at least $200,000 in income in 2024. For added context, the median income for a Mesquite household during that same year was $66,083.

The rise in wealthy newcomers might not be as much of a surprise to locals: There's currently a 1,400-acre master-planned community being developed to accommodate the city's growth, and discount chain BJ's Wholesale Club is expected to debut a Mesquite warehouse in early 2026.

According to the report, an influx of affluent households can have a significant impact on a city's local economy, most commonly through contributing "more dollars to the local and state tax bases, and to surrounding businesses."

"At the same time, this relative economic strength may sway entities to cater more to the preferences of these households to earn their patronage," the report said. "Quick growth in high income households may accelerate tax collection and business prosperity, just as their departure may cause some concern for local politicians, business owners, and neighbors."

In SmartAsset's 2025 report, Lewisville was the top Dallas-Fort Worth city that added the most wealthy new residents, but that figure has since plummeted. Lewisville ranked No. 312 in this year's rankings with a surprising 7.5 percent decline in high-income households from 2023-2024.

Texas cities with the biggest growth in high-income households
The East Texas city of Beaumont, located about 90 miles from Houston, had the biggest growth rate of high-earners in Texas from 2023-2024, and it ranked No. 6 nationally.

Three more Dallas-Fort Worth cities ranked in the top 100: Arlington (No. 56), McKinney (No. 69), and Irving (No. 90). Arlington had a 33.3 percent growth rate in high earners from 2023-2024, and now boasts 13,444 wealthy households. McKinney had 23,740 high-income households in 2024, an increase of 29.8 percent from the year before. Irving's wealthy population grew 24.1 percent, and claims 11,404 high income households.

Other Texas cities that ranked among the national top 100 include:

• No. 8 – Odessa
• No. 14 – Laredo
• No. 18 – College Station
• No. 20 – Conroe
• No. 28 – Waco
• No. 59 – Amarillo
• No. 66 – Atascocita
• No. 72 – McAllen
• No. 77 – League City
• No. 94 – Brownsville