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Living in
Mendota.
About
Life in Mendota
Mendota is a community of 12,554 people in California. The median household income is $50,342, median rent runs about $1,042 per month, and median home values are around $281,000. Unemployment sits at 8.5%, which is above the national average.
Mendota at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.5%
Foreign-Born
47.5%
Broadband Internet
86.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics47.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Mendota: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mendota, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (46.2%), and 85.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
34.6%
of residents
65 and Older
8.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
59.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.0%
of households
Married Couples
46.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.86
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 49% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Mendota
In Mendota, rent runs 49% below the CA average, and home values are 62% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
102.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,536
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1998
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $326,991 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Mendota and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Fresno County, which includes Mendota, is 3 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Mendota: Fresno County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Fresno County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Mendota is about 1% of Fresno County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Mendota Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Fresno, CA metro area
Commute30.6 min avg
How Mendota residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mendota, most residents drive alone to work (56%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 37 mi
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Small hub1.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 95 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 125 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 150% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mendota runs 150% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
823.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
902.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mendota Police Department
Natural DisastersDense Fog most common — 59 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Fresno County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Fresno County, which includes Mendota, the most common type is dense fog, with 59 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59 | Dense Fog | $11,000 |
| 2024 | 112 | Dense Fog | $1.0M |
| 2023 | 107 | Dense Fog | $9.6M |
| 2022 | 95 | Dense Fog | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 59 | Dense Fog | $50,200 |
| 2020 | 6 | Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 24 | Flood | $645,000 |
| 2018 | 12 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
168 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Fresno County, county-wide
Mendota is about 1% of Fresno County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality61 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Fresno County, which includes Mendota, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
61
Good Days
105
per year
Moderate Days
226
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Fresno County, county-wide
Mendota is about 1% of Fresno County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate96°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mendota has hot summers (avg high 96°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
96°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
10.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
109
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
25
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
58
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 39°F | 2.08" |
| Feb | 63°F | 41°F | 1.99" |
| Mar | 69°F | 44°F | 1.98" |
| Apr | 75°F | 46°F | 0.89" |
| May | 84°F | 52°F | 0.47" |
| Jun | 92°F | 58°F | 0.16" |
| Jul | 98°F | 63°F | 0.01" |
| Aug | 97°F | 61°F | 0.00" |
| Sep | 92°F | 58°F | 0.03" |
| Oct | 80°F | 50°F | 0.44" |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 0.92" |
| Dec | 56°F | 38°F | 1.82" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mendota
Uninsured
16.8%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education22.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mendota
Mendota's student/teacher ratio is 22.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 5.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
5.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pinnacles National Park, 48 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mendota
Mendota has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pinnacles National Park (48 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
48 mi awayYosemite National Park
National Park
88 mi awayDevils Postpile National Monument
National Monument
93 mi awaySequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
National Parks
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Mendota
Mendota Branch Library
1246 Belmont Avenue, Mendota
Cities Near Mendota
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mendota?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mendota FAQ
Is Mendota, California affordable?⌄
Mendota's median rent is $1,042/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $50,342/year. Median home value is $281,000.
Is Mendota, California safe?⌄
Mendota's violent crime rate was 823 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 903 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mendota, California?⌄
Fresno County, which includes Mendota, has an unemployment rate of 8.5%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mendota, California?⌄
The cost of living in Mendota is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,042/month and median household income is $50,342/year. The median home value is $281,000. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mendota, California?⌄
The average commute in Mendota is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from