Sought-after Mendota Heights is nestled in the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers and offers ample riverfront greenspace. An outdoor lover’s paradise, the city has 16 parks and three meticulously maintained golf courses. “We have great parks and trails and are a very welcoming kind of community,” says Mayor Stephanie Levine. Considered a bedroom community to the Twin Cities, Mendota Heights has all the amenities of the big city without the congestion. “I look at location – its proximity to major highways, airports, the Mall of America,” says Realtor Dick Braun with RE/MAX Results. “It’s just a hop, skip and a jump to any of those major arteries.”
Walking trails are abundant throughout Mendota Heights.
Par 3 is a 9-hole, par 27 golf course owned and operated by the City of Mendota Heights.
1/2
Increasing availability of homes
Housing inventory is on the rise in Mendota Heights due to the construction of new developments. “We don’t have a variety of big new single-family housing developments because we don’t have a lot of land available for that,” Levine says. New developments tend to be communities under 20 homes, like The Orchard, which completed construction in 2019. With the average list price over $700,000, the high-value community comes with a high price tag, but homes tend to hold their value. “Property values here haven’t been as affected by downturns in the market as other areas,” Braun says. Newly constructed town houses along the river can sell for as much as $850,000, but you can find older builds for half that.
The Orchard of Mendota Heights is a recent housing development in the area.
Contemporary houses in a cul-de-sac near the Mendakota Country Club.
A ranch-style home in Mendota Heights.
1/3
Nearby public schools
“We have way more schools than most cities our size, so you have incredible public and private options in Mendota Heights,” Levine says. Students start their education at Somerset Heights Elementary, which has an A-minus rank from Niche. Friendly Hills Middle School partners with two local theatre groups to encourage kids in the arts and might be followed by Two Rivers High School, which has an A-minus Niche grade. Saint Thomas Academy is the only all-male, Catholic military high school in Minnesota. The school promises small classes, with a teacher ratio of 10-to-1 and says 99 percent of students go on to college each year.
Mendota Heights Elementary School has a mission is to promote lifelong learning, recognize individuality, and provide challenging experiences forever.
Friendly Hills Middle School has a full time school counselor on staff.
Two Rivers High School offers a student/teacher ratio of 19 to 1.
1/3
Spend the day outdoors or book a tee time
Residents can come together at Marie Park to play pickleball. Friendly Marsh Park has a 2-mile loop that is isolated with a good mix of shade and sun. Rogers Lake is a full recreation lake with a scenic fishing pier and its skatepark is on deck for a major redesign. Mendakota Park is another standout facility with its large modern playground. Golf is also a thing in Mendota Heights. The city is home to the Mendakota Country Club and the Somerset Country Club, which attract people from all over the Twin Cities. But the community comes together at the Par 3 Golf Course, which owned and operated by the city. It’s unique in offering an affordable experience and is a perfect course for beginners. “It’s got a great clubhouse and in the wintertime we started card clubs and just came together for morning coffee,” Levine says. The course is a hub known for hosting events. “In October, we do a trick or treat team event where we involve businesses at each of our holes to pass out candy during our Halloween walk for the kiddos,” Levine says.
Golfers can enjoy the many courses in Mendota Heights such as Par 3.
A skate park at Rogers Lake in Mendota Heights.
Mendakota Park is right next to the golf course and has a playground and activity fields.
1/3
Great local eateries
“We have a really good variety of restaurants – a lot of independent restaurants,” Levine says of the business district off Dodd Road. Come by Caribou Coffee in the morning for a hot spot of java and enjoy their famously rustic interior. “The Copperfield has become a big hangout for the community. When you walk in, you always know people,” Levine says. Modern and industrial, but homey at the same time, enjoy home cooking with a unique twist at this locally owned haunt. There’s also Teresa’s Mexican Restaurant, which recently expanded to into the next-door location so there’s rarely a wait. “I’ve never had better chips and salsa anywhere in the Twin Cities,” Levine says. For groceries and essentials, you only need to travel minutes to neighboring West St. Paul.
Teresa's is a popular chain restaurant with a location in Mendota Heights.
Ze's Diner is a retro styled, classic American diner in Mendota Heights.
The Copperfield is a restaurant and bar serving cocktails to coffee in Mendota Heights.
1/3
Easy access to the Twin Cities
Interstate 35 East runs through the heart of Mendota Heights, allowing many residents easy access to their commute. Hop on Interstate 94 to make it to Minneapolis, which is only 13 miles away, or use I-35E to get to St. Paul.
Just across the river from Mendota Heights you can catch the light rail to the Mall of America.
A short drive from Mendota Heights, the light rail will also take you to Minneapolis.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
