$174,694Average Value$112Average Price per Sq Ft10Homes 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 Lake 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 Barn and Frankie's, a fried chicken place, opened in 2025. Also 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
Judah Sameth,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Mendota, IL sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Mendota, IL over the last 12 months is $158,700, up 22% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
AFFORDABLE, UPDATED AND FULL OF POTENTIAL! WHETHER YOU'RE A FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER OR AN INVESTOR LOOKING TO ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO, THIS CHARMING HOME IS READY FOR IT'S NEXT OWNER. RECENTLY FRESHENED UP, IT FEATURES ATTRACTIVE LAMINATE HARDWOOD FLOORING THROUGHOUT, A COZY KITCHEN, AND A NEW TUB/SHOWER SURROUND IN THE BATHROOM. THE INVITING FRONT PORCH OFFERS ADDITIONAL LIVING SPACE AND WOULD MAKE A
Three (3) Fully Improved Commercial Lots, Each Exceeding One (1) Acre, Available at the I-39 and Route 34 Interchange in Mendota. With curb, gutter, and utilities already in place, these parcels offer immediate development potential. Positioned within a rapidly expanding interchange corridor with strong daily traffic counts, the sites provide exceptional visibility and accessibility. Ideal for
Victorian!! 3 BDR, 2BA home with 2 car garage!! Main floor laundry! Large living room with hardwood floors. Lovely dining room with original bow window still showcasing its leaded, beveled and stained glass! Beautifully remodeled kitchen with space for an island with stools or small table. The detailed original oak staircase has gorgeous rope twist spindles, with posts sharing that design as well
Exceptional investment opportunity featuring two well-maintained buildings comprised of one 4-unit building and one 8-unit building. Seven units have been fully remodeled with many modern updates, while four additional units are currently leased and producing steady income. All units are on 1 year lease with security deposits. One remaining vacant unit presents a prime value-add opportunity for
Welcome to a truly one-of-a-kind opportunity! This expansive ranch-style property blends character, flexibility, and endless potential in an unbeatable location just off IL-251. Formerly used as a church and now zoned residential, this unique building offers the perfect canvas for a spacious single-family home, multi-generational living setup, or an easy conversion into two separate residential
Rare opportunity for builders and developers to acquire residential parcels in a thoughtfully planned neighborhood in Mendota, a growing community attracting buyers seeking affordability and small-town quality of life. The proposed layout includes a mix of generously sized homesites, with several oversized corner lots ideal for ranch-style homes and wider footprints, while interior parcels are
Three (3) Fully Improved Commercial Lots, Each Exceeding One (1) Acre, Available at the I-39 and Route 34 Interchange in Mendota. With curb, gutter, and utilities already in place, these parcels offer immediate development potential. Positioned within a rapidly expanding interchange corridor with strong daily traffic counts, the sites provide exceptional visibility and accessibility. Ideal for
A one of a kind Colonial style home, renovated in 2017 on original foundation. Features 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, spacious open floor plan, lovely kitchen with cabinets galore, granite counter top, luxury vinyl plank floors and all appliances remain. The kitchen opens up to the dining room and to the living room with a cozy electric fireplace. The main level has one bedroom and a full bath off the
One (1) of Three (3) Fully Improved Commercial Lots, each exceeding One (1) Acre, Available at the I-39 and Route 34 Interchange in Mendota. With curb, gutter, and utilities already in place, these parcels offer immediate development potential. Positioned within a rapidly expanding interchange corridor with strong daily traffic counts, the sites provide exceptional visibility and accessibility.
Cool. Sleek. Immaculate. This split level sets the standard for other homes in the Lake Mendota neighborhood. The lively main level eat in kitchen with huge sunroom out back contrasts with a serene, plush carpeted sitting room behind French doors up front. The upper level's three sizable bedrooms host generously sized closets and showroom ready hardwood floors. A full bath greets you with tiled
Opportunity knocks on nearly 3 acres! This 2.95 acre parcel sits on the edge of a growing commercial corridor, offering an ideal setting for a small subdivision or one to several single-family homes. With approximately 493 feet of road frontage, the land provides excellent access and flexibility for future development. Convenience is the real star here-located on the same block as Scooter's
High-Visibility Commercial Opportunity on the Highway! Position your business for success with this .9-acre commercial parcel ideally located directly on the highway in a thriving, newer commercial corridor. Surrounded by established traffic drivers including Scooter's Coffee, Anytime Fitness, and Dollar General, this location offers built-in visibility and convenience for customers and employees
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