City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Mendota, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Mendota - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

12,554
Residents
$46,458
Median income
$250,400
Median home
$1,503
Median rent (state)

Mendota - the verdict

Nationally, Mendota sits in the 14th percentile for household income and the 50th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

14th
percentile, household income
56th
percentile, home value
60th
percentile, median rent
50th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Mendota, CA

Mendota is a small town in California, home to 12,554 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Mendota brings in $46,458 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 28.9%. Typical homes in Mendota are valued around $250,400, and the median resident age is 24.9 years. Educational attainment runs 4.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 12 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Low Activity). Mendota reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1358.8 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,503 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Commute times here average 32.5 minutes, with 54.2% driving alone and 5.8% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 96.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

12,554 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$46,458 /yr

Poverty 28.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Mendota compare to other US cities?

Where Mendota sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 14% higher than other cities
Home value 56% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% pricier than other cities
Safety 50% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: Mendota ranks #120 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Mendota's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

14thIncome percentile
50thSafety percentile

14th percentile nationally for median household income · 50th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Mendota's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Mendota's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Mendota's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Mendota's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$250,400 44th percentile more affordable than 44% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Mendota $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Mendota, CA Mendota, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Mendota, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Mendota, CA median $46,458/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Mendota, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Mendota, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 28.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
12,554
Median Income
$46,458
Median Home Value
$250,400
Median Age
24.9
Poverty Rate
28.9%
Labor force participation
54.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1358.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
687.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
671.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,500 residents12,600 residents12,700 residents12,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 12,588 residents 12,778 residents ▲ +1.5%
Mendota's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
12
housing units authorized
Single-Family
12
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 3
2022 5
2023 2
2024 12

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
32.5 minutes
Drive Alone
54.2%
Carpool
34.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.8%
Other
5.7%

Based on 3,966 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Mendota sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,503/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Lindsay
12,572 people
Kingsburg
12,589 people
Big Bear
12,493 people
Diamond Springs
12,642 people
Grover Beach
12,687 people
Fortuna
12,413 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Mendota's 12,554 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Windsor Locks, CT
12,555 people
Artesia, NM
12,555 people
Poquoson, VA
12,556 people
Spearfish, SD
12,551 people
Union, MO
12,560 people
Northlake, IL
12,547 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Mendota's $46,458 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Chinle, AZ
$46,458 median income
Tishomingo, MS
$46,458 median income
Broughton, OH
$46,458 median income
Davenport, OK
$46,458 median income
Hamilton, TX
$46,466 median income
Nicholson, MS
$46,468 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Mendota, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Mendota, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 23.9% 50.5% 24.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 99.1% White 23.9% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.2% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 50.5% Two or more races 24.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Mendota compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Mendota (this city) 12,554 $46,458
Lindsay 12,572 $50,563
Kingsburg 12,589 $82,562
Big Bear 12,493 $72,457
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Mendota, CA?

What is the population of Mendota, CA? +

Mendota, CA counts 12,554 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Mendota, CA? +

In Mendota, the typical household earns $46,458 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Mendota? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Mendota; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Mendota, CA safe? +

Mendota has a total crime rate of 1358.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Mendota, CA? +

The median home value in Mendota is $250,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.