US101CotatiGradeEdit2667, 2007
Cotati’s story
132 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,852 in 1960, 7,584 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 6 maps from 1916 on.
- 1894Cotati is settled
Photo: Goldenrowley · Public domain
Population
7,347
2025 Census estimate · −3.4% since 2020
Typical home
$724K
+0% in a year
Household income
$111K
median
Median age
38.5
years
Jobs based here
2,711
Balanced
TownGrade
B−
#233 of 841 in CA
Is Cotati a good place to live?
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 94% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Overall it grades B−, ranked 233rd of 841 in California. It is healthier than 84% of U.S. towns and the median household earns $111K. Its weakest subject is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $724K for a typical one and 6.9 times the Santa Rosa metro’s $105K median household income. Cotati’s concentration of trails is 1.7 miles per square mile, above both the California town median (1.0) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Cotati is more walkable than 87% of U.S. towns.
What makes Cotati stand out
Where Cotati beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
How Cotati grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Cotati is from typical.
Its grades run from A for walkability (better than 87% of comparable towns) to D− for hazard risk (better than 4%), so the B− overall blends very different results.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.2 of 20; 3.9% of households have no carAOpen →HealthProvidence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital 7.9 miles awayA−Open →Jobs & income2,711 jobs based hereA−Open →SafetyB−Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 4% conserved landA−Open →History1 notable person born hereC−Open →Civic life3.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 81° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market$724K typical home, up 0% in a year; 15 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 38.5–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 192 attractions →Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and 88 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Cotati. Close and well known come first.
Big draw38 mi MuseumAlcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Big draw40 mi LandmarkLombard Street
Big draw39 mi GardenPresidio of San Francisco
32 mi Ancient siteFort Ross
30 mi National MonumentMuir Woods National Monument757K visitors a year
29 mi MountainMount TamalpaisSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary: druchoy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Lombard Street: The original uploader was Y6y6y6 at English Wikipedia., Public domain · Presidio of San Francisco: Robert Campbell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort Ross: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Muir Woods National Monument: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Tamalpais: Originally uploaded by Nelso (Transferred by DimiTalen), CC BY-SA 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Cotati: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Cotati, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Cotati water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown’s haulerRecology picks up at the curb for every homeTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSonoma County Registrar of VotersSonoma County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2026
ZIP code9493194931 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Cotati.
#194for trails in CA
3.5%
conserved · 42 of 1,197 acres
3.3 mi
of trails · 1.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pocket Park and Food Forest | 0.3 mi | 3 |
| 2. Helen Putnam Park | 0.2 mi | 8 |
| 3. Cator Field | 0.1 mi | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB−
On state tests, Cotati’s schools beat 51% of California districts
Its one school is below. Public schools: the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified school district. Enrollment at the town’s public school: 428 students.
51%of CA districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Page AcademyLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 428 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Cotati has a very high natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
Households in Cotati have drawn federal disaster aid in 3 declared disasters, most recently in 2020. 53% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by earthquakes at 44%. Paid flood insurance claims locally since 1993: 2.
94risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
2
paid flood claims since 1993
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA−
Cotati’s grade for health is an A−
Its widest gap with California is no health insurance: 6.5% of those 18–64 have no health insurance, against 10.6% statewide.
In Cotati, 25% of adults have been diagnosed with depression. The share of adults in Cotati who have obesity is 26%, against 29% in California’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Cotati is ahead of California on 14 and behind on 2.
84%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Cotati | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 71% | 72% | 79% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 29% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. California
14 better16 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Cotati | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.5% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.4% | 17.9% |
| More adults with depression | 25% | 20.1% |
Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
7.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
75th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
81°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter39–59°
Spring44–68°
Summer51–79°
Fall46–74°
Nov 25
typical first frost
Feb 28
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
81°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
With only 0.8 jobs per working resident, most people in Cotati work out of town
Commuting out is the norm in Cotati: 4% of working residents work locally. The average trip to work for Cotati comes to 29 minutes. Half commute less than 11 miles. The top destinations are Santa Rosa (17%), Petaluma (13%) and Rohnert Park (9%).
4%work in town
| Cotati | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $111,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 15% | 14% | 11% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.5% | 6.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Cotati4%
Santa Rosa17%
Petaluma13%
Rohnert Park9%
San Francisco7%
11 mi
median commute distance
2,711
jobs based in Cotati
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 87% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Fewer children than California overall
Cotati has lost 3.4% of its people since 2020, down to 7,347 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. Children under 18 are 16% of residents (22% statewide). The share of adults 25 and older in Cotati who hold a bachelor’s degree or more: 38%.
38.5median age · CA 37.9
| Cotati | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 16% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 38% | 29% | 29% |
| Median age | 38.5 years | 39.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 16% | 18% |
CotatiCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school15%
Some college34%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s27%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.6 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Cotati | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 5.9% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.9% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 17.4% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 17.5% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.4% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.5% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.6% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.4% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.4% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 14.7% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 34.1% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.1% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 26.5% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.1% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade D−
Cotati’s grade for cost of living is a D−
Cotati’s median rent is $2,056 a month. Homes sold in Cotati spent a median 15 days on the market. 59% of households are owner-occupiers locally.
$724KZillow home value
| Cotati | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,056 a month | $1,895 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 59% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Cotati$724K
California$762K
Market temperature
15
days on market
100.6%
sale-to-list price
+0%
value change, 1 year
6
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyB−
Cotati sees more crime per resident than 51% of U.S. towns
The violent crime rate in Cotati is 1.4 per 1,000 residents. Within California, it does better than nearly four in five towns.
49%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Cotati | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.4 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 11.7 per 1,000 residents | 13.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Cotati1.4
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Cotati11.7
California18.2
U.S.15.5
49th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
79th
percentile among CA towns
10
violent crimes reported in 2025
86
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Cotati
20pages on Cotati
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 51% of CA districts · 1 schoolSafetyB−1.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than CA on 14 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$724K typical home · up 0% in a yearWork & commuteA−$111K median household income · 2,711 jobs hereNatural hazardsD−FEMA risk higher than 94% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Cotati
Sonoma State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Rohnert Park2 mi$8,624 in-state tuitionSanta Rosa Junior CollegeCommunity college · Public · Santa Rosa8.9 mi$1,318 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 Cotati residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
About Cotati
City in California, United States
Cotati (, ; Miwok: Kota’ti) is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately 45 mi (70 km) north of San Francisco in the 101 corridor between Rohnert Park and Petaluma. Cotati's population as of the 2020 Census was 7,584, making it the least populous incorporated community in Sonoma County. Like the rest of Sonoma County, Cotati is included in both the San Francisco Bay Area and the North Coast. Located in the Sonoma Coast AVA, Cotati can also be considered part of Wine Country. E & J Gallo Winery operates a 400-acre (160 ha) vineyard called Two Rock Vineyard in the hills west of town. Cotati's hexagonal downtown plaza, one of only two hexagonal town layouts in t…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1963
- Area
- 1.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 112 ft
- ZIP code
- 94931
- Area code
- 707
Cotati’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Cotati.
Rohnert ParkCotati
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotati | #233 | B− | D− | B− | B− | A− |
| Rohnert Park | #378 | C | D− | C+ | B− | A− |
Questions about Cotati
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Cotati, CA a good place to live?
Cotati grades B− overall, better than 46% of U.S. towns and #233 of 841 in California. It grades A− for health, B− for safety and B− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Cotati, CA safe?
Within California, it does better than 79% of towns.
Is Cotati, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.