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Living in
Mendota Heights.
About
Life in Mendota Heights
Mendota Heights is a community of 11,644 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $132,935, median rent runs about $1,631 per month, and median home values are around $520,300. Unemployment is low at 3.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Mendota Heights at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Foreign-Born
5.2%
Broadband Internet
96.5%
of households
Population Growth
-1.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.2% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Mendota Heights: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mendota Heights, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (17.5%), and 2.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.1%
of residents
65 and Older
26.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.8%
of households
Married Couples
57.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.41
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 27% above MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Mendota Heights
In Mendota Heights, rent runs 27% above the MN average, and home values are 58% above the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,491
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $570,654 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Mendota Heights and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Dakota County, which includes Mendota Heights, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Mendota Heights: Dakota County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Dakota County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Mendota Heights is about 3% of Dakota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Mendota Heights Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute19.6 min avg
How Mendota Heights residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mendota Heights, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M 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 84% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mendota Heights runs 84% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
52.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
844.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mendota Heights Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dakota County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dakota County, which includes Mendota Heights, the most common type is hail, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 17 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 18 | Hail | $2.1M |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $153,700 |
| 2020 | 16 | Winter Storm | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 20 | Hail | $10,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dakota County, county-wide
Mendota Heights is about 3% of Dakota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dakota County, which includes Mendota Heights, is typically good — 267 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
267
per year
Moderate Days
88
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Dakota County, county-wide
Mendota Heights is about 3% of Dakota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mendota Heights has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
27°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
31.6"
Annual Snowfall
51.2"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
147
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 9°F | 0.89" |
| Feb | 29°F | 13°F | 0.87" |
| Mar | 42°F | 25°F | 1.68" |
| Apr | 57°F | 38°F | 2.91" |
| May | 69°F | 50°F | 3.91" |
| Jun | 79°F | 60°F | 4.58" |
| Jul | 83°F | 65°F | 4.06" |
| Aug | 81°F | 63°F | 4.34" |
| Sep | 73°F | 54°F | 3.02" |
| Oct | 58°F | 41°F | 2.58" |
| Nov | 42°F | 28°F | 1.61" |
| Dec | 29°F | 15°F | 1.17" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mendota Heights
Uninsured
0.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Mendota Heights's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Minneapolis
Allina United Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Saint Paul
Regions Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Saint Paul
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education67.5% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in Mendota Heights
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
67.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Mendota Heights (within 15 miles)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
7.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,855 students · in-state tuition $18,482 · 83% graduate · median earnings $74,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 18,364 students · in-state tuition $14,328 · 32% graduate · median earnings $51,254 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 9,136 students · in-state tuition $13,140 · 33% graduate · median earnings $54,715 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,044 students · in-state tuition $6,567 · 26% graduate · median earnings $55,051 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,245 students · in-state tuition $56,460 · 78% graduate · median earnings $82,322 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,616 students · in-state tuition $10,382 · 58% graduate · median earnings $66,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mendota Heights
Mendota Heights has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
5 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
68 mi awayCities Near Mendota Heights
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mendota Heights?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mendota Heights FAQ
Is Mendota Heights, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Mendota Heights's median rent is $1,631/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $132,768/year. Median home value is $520,300.
Is Mendota Heights, Minnesota safe?⌄
Mendota Heights's violent crime rate was 52 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 844 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mendota Heights, Minnesota?⌄
Dakota County, which includes Mendota Heights, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mendota Heights, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Mendota Heights is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,631/month and median household income is $132,768/year. The median home value is $520,300. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mendota Heights, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Mendota Heights is 20 minutes, which is shorter than 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