Mendota is a walkable, friendly small city with classic Midwestern charm — quiet neighborhoods, lakes and parks, a solid community hospital, and an affordable cost of living that makes multi-week contracts comfortable and easy to extend. The pace is relaxed but you’ll find local cafés, trails and community events to fill evenings and weekends without feeling stuck.
Bigger-city options are within a reasonable drive: Rockford (≈59 miles) and Aurora (≈49 miles) offer museums, larger restaurant scenes and shopping if you want weekend variety.