Median Income
$43,315
household / year
Median Home Value
$236,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$832
gross / month
Cost of Living
100
national avg = 100

Is Mendota, CA a Good Place to Live?

Mendota is a small city of 12,603 in California, with a median household income of $43,315 and a 11.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% above the national average.

Strengths: Mendota stands out for below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Mendota is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Mendota city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.3

Mendota's overall cost of living index is 100.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mendota costs roughly 0% more than the average American city.

Metric Mendota, CA National Avg
Median Home Value $236,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $832 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 45.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $43,315 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Mendota's violent crime rate is 687.4 per 100,000 residents — 81% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
687.4 /100k
Property Crime
671.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Mendota is served primarily by Mendota Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Mendota, CA National Avg
School District Mendota Unified —
Elementary Schools 3 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 3 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 22.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 3.6% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 37.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mendota sees average highs of 56.9°F in January and 97.7°F in July, with 10.7 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricMendota, CA
Average High — January56.9°F
Average High — July97.7°F
Annual Precipitation10.7"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricMendota, CANational Avg
Population12,603—
Median Age24.338.9
Unemployment Rate11.4%3.7%
Avg Commute Time34.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)32.4%59.3%
Black or African American0.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino66.9%18.9%
Asian0.1%6.3%
Under 1838.5%22.2%
65 and over6.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Firebaugh, CA 8 mi Tranquillity, CA 10 mi San Joaquin, CA 15 mi La Vina, CA 17 mi Three Rocks, CA 17 mi

ZIP Codes in Mendota

Mendota, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

93640

Mendota vs Other Cities

Mendota, CA vs Firebaugh, CA Mendota, CA vs Tranquillity, CA Mendota, CA vs San Joaquin, CA Mendota, CA vs La Vina, CA Mendota, CA vs Three Rocks, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Mendota's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. That puts Mendota roughly 0% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $236,700 and median rent is $832/month.
Mendota's violent crime rate is 687.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 671.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mendota are operated by Mendota Unified. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.7:1. 3.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mendota, CA has a population of 12,603, a median household income of $43,315, and an unemployment rate of 11.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Mendota averages 56.9°F in January and 97.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.7 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mendota, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 93640.
The population of Mendota, California is 12,603 with a median age of 24.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mendota: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $236,700, median household income $43,315, crime index 121 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mendota side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.