The Town FilesMendota Heights, Minnesota
City in Dakota County · population 11,744 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $520,300
- Household income
- $132,768
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 47.0
Mendota Heights is a city of 11,744 people in Dakota County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $520,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better transit than 99% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 98% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Minnesota towns.
How Mendota Heights ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mendota Heights is worth $520,300, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $132,768, which is more affordable than 26% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,631 a month. 78.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mendota Heights | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $520,300 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,631 | $991 |
| Median household income | $132,768 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Mendota Heights
| People | Mendota Heights | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 30.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Mendota Heights
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 31.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.2 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mendota Heights since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 14, 1981 about 1.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 129 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 277 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 8, 1966.
Severe weather in Dakota County since 1996
Dakota County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Dakota County
Dakota County had 189,387 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,792 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Mendota Heights itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Mendota Heights
7 public schools with 3,174 students, about 32.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Rivers High School | 9-12 | 1,648 | 28.4 |
| FRIENDLY HILLS MIDDLE | 5-8 | 740 | 20.6 |
| SOMERSET ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 402 | 201.0 |
| MENDOTA ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 372 | 186.0 |
| Special Education | K-12 | 7 | — |
| Aspen House Education Program | 6-12 | 5 | — |
| W ST. PAUL AREA LEARNING CNTR. | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Mendota Heights
- West St. Paul, MN2.9 mi · 20,615 people · home $301,300
- South St. Paul, MN4.6 mi · 20,759 people · home $281,600
- Eagan, MN4.6 mi · 68,855 people · home $397,100
- Inver Grove Heights, MN5.0 mi · 35,801 people · home $363,400
- St. Paul, MN5.1 mi · 311,527 people · home $294,500
- Newport, MN6.6 mi · 3,797 people · home $378,100
- Richfield, MN7.3 mi · 36,994 people · home $344,000
- St. Paul Park, MN7.5 mi · 5,544 people · home $263,500
Mendota Heights questions
Is Mendota Heights, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mendota Heights scores better for retirees than 83% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 14%. 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Mendota Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Mendota Heights is valued at $520,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $132,768, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,631 a month.
What is the weather like in Mendota Heights?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.6 inches of precipitation a year and 51.2 inches of snow.
Does Mendota Heights get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mendota Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 14, 1981. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)