$167,663Average Value$108Average Price per Sq Ft9Homes For Sale
The small town of Mendota has its own hospital and Amtrak station
In 2022, when the local organization Reimagine Mendota polled residents on why they liked living in Mendota, the top response was the people. "It's a small town where people are more giving and more willing to help," says local Joe McConville, a Realtor with McConville Realty & Auctioneering. "It's heartwarming to see."
First settled as a railroad town, Mendota is now an Amtrak train stop on the way into Chicago . It's nestled in a rural corner of LaSalle County, but the train and the healthcare industry at OSF Saint Paul Medical Center keep the city connected. "This is still a farming community," says McConville, who owns his own farm around the edges of town. "And it's popular with retirees because of the hospital." According to Annie Short, a project director with the city, Mendota is also seeing signs of growth. “We are securing quite a few grants, so our community is going to be changing, especially downtown,” she says.
Mendota, IL offers a small town feel with natural areas.
The OSF Saint Paul Medical Center provides jobs for residents.
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Historic homes and renovated properties line the gridded streets
Mendota's oldest homes date back to the mid-1800s, so the heart of town features Craftsman, Folk Victorian and Tudor Revival architecture emblematic of that time period. As the city expanded steadily through the 1900s, bungalows and ranch-style homes became more popular. The gridded streets generally have sidewalks and back-alley access to detached garages.
Some properties needing renovations start under $100,000, and move-in-ready homes from $100,000 to $200,000 typically still have older interiors. Houses between $200,000 and $325,000 are often fully renovated or built after the 1990s. "It's a high-demand area because we have low inventory," McConville says.
Craftsman homes can be found in Mendota, IL.
Victorian homes from the mid-1800s are sprinkled through Mendota, IL.
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Public schools offer dual credit and career-focused courses
Mendota Community Consolidated School District Number 289 has three schools spanning prekindergarten through eighth grade. Niche gives the district an overall C rating. Students then move on to Mendota Township High School, which is rated B. Mendota High offers dual enrollment courses with Illinois Valley Community College, as well as career-focused courses like agriculture and engineering. The city is also home to Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School, which serves prekindergarten through eighth grade.
Lincoln Elementary School serves students in Mendota, IL.
Mendota High School receives a B from Niche.
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Lakeside trails and access to some of Illinois' best state parks
At Mendota Park, walking trails wind around sports courts and two lakes. Both Lake Mendota and Lake Kakusha are open for fishing and non-motorized boats. Although swimming is not allowed in the lakes, locals can stay cool at the nearby Mendota Public Pool. "People love walking by the lakes, and our city is really proactive with park development," McConville says. "They just put in pickleball courts and frisbee golf."
The waterfalls and canyons of Starved Rock State Park, the most visited state park in Illinois, are 20 miles south. "It's great to have Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Park so close, but on a nice weekend day, they get overrun with visitors," McConville says.
Mendota Lake Park is located in Lasalle County, Mendota, IL.
Enjoy elevated hiking paths at Starved Rock State Park.
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Dining at vintage diners and authentic Mexican restaurants
The city is known for its homestyle diners, including Ziggie's Family Restaurant, which has served the community since 1972. For Mexican food, El Zarape and El Ray Del Taco are also local staples. “We have a 30% Hispanic population in Mendota,” Short says. “So our Mexican food is really authentic.” Diaz Grocery stocks a variety of Hispanic pantry staples, and Sullivan’s Food has a standard grocery selection. Just over 10 miles south, Peru has larger options like a Walmart.
Although some of downtown's vintage storefronts remain empty, the city is seeing new businesses move in. The Coffee Bean opened in 2025, and Frankie's, a fried chicken place, is set to open later in the year. In 2025, the city received a nearly $2 million grant to refurbish a damaged downtown building into a multi-use community hub with space for events, vendors and remote working. Another grant is going towards a paved bike path that will lead from the train station out to the city's lakes.
Ziggie's Family Restaurant is a great spot for lunch.
Start your morning with a coffee at The Coffee Barn.
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Small-town events include the Sweet Corn Festival
Mendota has a variety of rural attractions, including an indoor motocross facility and the annual Tri-County Fair. "There's a farmers market every Saturday and downtown food truck nights put on by Reimagine Mendota," McConville says. In 2025, the city celebrated the second annual Amigo Fest, which highlights Mendota's rich Latino culture.
However, the city's headline attraction is the annual Sweet Corn Festival, which brings in more than 40,000 people each August. In addition to plenty of corn-themed foods, there's a pageant, parade and carnival rides. The festival acts as a homecoming of sorts, drawing people back to their hometown to take part in this long-standing extravaganza.
An Amtrak stop makes day trips to Chicago easy
Residents can hop on Interstate 39 to travel 60 miles north to Rockford or 30 miles south to Ottawa . Mendota also has an Amtrak train station, which runs twice daily to Chicago in about 90 minutes. By car, the 100-mile trip to Chicago is about 2 hours. "You need train tickets in advance because it fills up," McConville says. "But the Amtrak makes it really easy to take a day trip into the city." The closest airport is Chicago Rockford International Airport, but O'Hare International Airport has significantly more destination options.
Take the Amtrak to Chicago in about 90 minutes.
Mendota's Amtrak station makes it easy to commute to Chicago.
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Written By
Catherine Lashley
Photography Contributed By
Mallory Nolte
Video By
TJ Wengert
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Amy Smith-Heine,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Mendota, IL sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Mendota, IL over the last 12 months is $142,500, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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