Chanhassen receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Chanhassen
Mendota Heights
Opportunity
60 · Top 43%
vs55 · Bottom 47%
Growth
65 · Top 25%
vs67 · Top 21%
Climate
54 · Bottom 4%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
90 · Top 11%
vs88 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
89 · Top 33%
vs90 · Top 32%
Access
90 · Bottom 43%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
82 · Top 4%
vs77 · Top 13%
Measured values
| Metric | Chanhassen | Mendota Heights | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,006 | 11,612 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $143,651 | $132,768 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $76,879 | $72,329 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,277/sq mi | 1,280/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $566,300 | $520,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,831 | $1,631 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 84.1% | 78.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.1% | 67.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 460 | 150 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 17.7 | 12.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 40.7% | 2900.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 8°F | 9°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 30.6" | 31.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 17 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 21.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.5 | 47.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 1 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.75 | 17.44 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 16.7% | 41.1% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Chanhassen
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail, tornado.
Mendota Heights
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Chanhassen
76
Your Score
74
Area Score
Mendota Heights
75
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Chanhassen, MN · Mendota Heights, MN · How this is calculated: methodology