JauchMHS, 1984
Mendota’s story
134 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,516 in 1950, 12,595 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1984 and 3 maps from 1947 on.
- 1892Mendota is settled
MendotaCA
A town of 12,778, settled in 1892.
Photo: David Jordan at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
12,778
2025 Census estimate · +1.4% since 2020
Typical home
$327K
+4.9% in a year
Household income
$50K
median
Median age
26.6
years
Jobs based here
1,523
A commuter town
TownGrade
D−
#818 of 841 in CA
Is Mendota a good place to live?
Mendota grades D− overall, ranked 818th of 841 in California, mostly because of health and incomes. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 98% of the country. The median household income is $50K, and 28% of residents live below the poverty line. 28% of residents live below the poverty line in Mendota, above both California’s towns (10%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 85 of California’s 1,058 towns score higher on cost of living. Mendota's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 100% of U.S. towns.
A growing town
Mendota has grown 16% since 2010
11,014 counted in 2010 and 12,595 in 2020; an estimated 12,778 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Mendota grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Mendota is from typical.
HealthMadera Community Hospital 22.6 miles awayD−Open →Jobs & incomeD−Open →Hazard riskdrought tops the listC−Open →SafetyC−Open →SchoolsC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.3 of 20; 9.6% of households have no car; 0.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 1% conserved landB−Open →HistoryC−Open →Civic life0.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 95° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 26.6; 5% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Mendota: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mendota, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Mendota water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Mendota’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereFresno County Clerk, Registrar of VotersFresno County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code9364093640 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Mendota.
Mendota has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns, but it is a long drive from an emergency room and has poverty well above the California rate.
HealthD−
Compared with most of California and the rest of the country, more of Mendota’s adults say their health is fair or poor
The nearest emergency room, Madera Community Hospital, is 22.6 miles away in a straight line.
45% of Mendota adults say their health is fair or poor. Mendota beats the California average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 24. 23% of Mendota adults report frequent mental distress.
2%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Mendota | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 22% | 19% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 29% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 17% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. California
1 better7 too close to call24 worse
| What stands out | Mendota | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 3.2% | 6.4% |
| More uninsured adults | 34.3% | 10.6% |
Madera Community Hospital
22.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
1st
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsC+
Mendota’s schools rank behind 65% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Mendota Unified school district. Two of its 7 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Mendota High, with 1,065 students.
35%of CA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCabe ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades 2–6 | Grades 2–6 | 986 | D |
| Mendota HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,065 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade C+
Homes in Mendota are worth about $327K, by Zillow’s estimate
Home values rose 31% in five years, to about $327K, against 13% across California. The median property tax bill is $1,536, against $5,124 across California, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Mendota home is worth about $327,000, up 4.9% in a year, 57% below the California typical home. 45% of households own their home in Mendota.
$327KZillow home value
| Mendota | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 45% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,042 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Mendota$327K
California$762K
+4.9%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyC−
Crime per resident in Mendota is higher than in 83% of U.S. towns
The violent crime rate in Mendota is 8.2 per 1,000 residents.
17%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| Mendota | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 8.2 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 8.7 per 1,000 residents | 13.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Mendota8.2
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Mendota8.7
California18.2
U.S.15.5
17th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
26th
percentile among CA towns
104
violent crimes reported in 2025
110
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Drought leads a very high hazard risk in Mendota
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 83% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Mendota.
83risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtEarthquakes
3
paid flood claims since 1978
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
With 0.6 jobs for every working resident, most of Mendota’s workers commute out
Jobs based here grew from 1,037 in 2013 to 1,523.
Most working residents leave Mendota for work: only 15% work in town. Jobs based in Mendota grew to 1,523 in 2023, 486 more than in 2013. Mendota’s average trip to work is 31 minutes.
15%work in town
| Mendota | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 15% | 6.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Mendota15%
Fresno13%
Firebaugh4%
Kerman4%
Madera3%
33 mi
median commute distance
1,523
jobs based in Mendota
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 41% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
#467for trails in CA
| Mendota | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
1.3%
conserved · 26 of 2,102 acres
2.3 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rojas Pierce Park | 0.4 mi | 10 |
| 2. Mendota Pool Park | — | 6 |
| 3. Lindgren-Lozano Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
In Mendota, expect mild winters and hot summers
The Madera weather station, 23 miles away, records that about 100 days a year reach 90°, more than in 96% of U.S. towns. July afternoons average 95.2°, hotter than in 96% of U.S. towns; January nights average 39.6°.
Mendota has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
95°summer high
| Mendota | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 95°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 40°F | 41°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter40–58°
Spring49–75°
Summer63–93°
Fall52–78°
Nov 30
typical first frost
Feb 12
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
95°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mendota
19pages on Mendota
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 65% of CA districts · 7 schoolsSafetyC−8.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthD−Better than CA on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$327K typical home · up 4.9% in a yearWork & commuteD−$50K median household income · 1,523 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 83% of U.S. communities · drought
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mendota; the nearest are
Madera Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Madera24.1 mi$1,378 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-FresnoUniversity or college · Public · Fresno35.4 mi$7,350 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Mendota residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
A commuter town
85% of working residents leave Mendota for work
Where Mendota’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,523jobs based in Mendota
15%of working residents work in town
33 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Mendota
City in California, United States
Mendota is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 12,595 at the 2020 U.S. Census. State Routes 180 and 33 run through the agricultural city. Mendota is located 8.5 miles (14 km) south-southeast of Firebaugh.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1942
- Area
- 3.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 174 ft
- ZIP code
- 93640
- Area code
- 559
Questions about Mendota
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mendota, CA a good place to live?
Mendota grades D− overall, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns and #818 of 841 in California. It grades D− for health, C− for safety and C+ for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Mendota, CA expensive?
That is 4.4 years of the area's median household income ($74,468 across the Fresno, CA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.