Mendota Heights receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Cottage Grove
Mendota Heights
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 35%
vs55 · Bottom 47%
Growth
80 · Top 5%
vs67 · Top 21%
Climate
55 · Bottom 5%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
87 · Top 15%
vs88 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 12%
vs90 · Top 32%
Access
93 · Top 45%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
85 · Top 2%
vs77 · Top 13%
Measured values
| Metric | Cottage Grove | Mendota Heights | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,992 | 11,612 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $120,791 | $132,768 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,540 | $72,329 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,219/sq mi | 1,280/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $378,800 | $520,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,783 | $1,631 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 88.2% | 78.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.9% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.8% | 67.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 611 | 150 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 14.9 | 12.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 114.4% | 2900.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 9°F | 9°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.2" | 31.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 16 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 21.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.5 | 47.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 14 | 1 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.02 | 17.44 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 29.0% | 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
Cottage Grove
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail.
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.
Cottage Grove
74
Your Score
69
Area Score
Mendota Heights
75
Your Score
72
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Cottage Grove, MN · Mendota Heights, MN · How this is calculated: methodology