Cost to Own
United States › California › Sonoma County › Cotati Population 7,533 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
Before you budget for Cotati FEMA rates natural hazard risk in Sonoma County Relatively High, with landslide its highest-ranked hazard against other US counties. It shapes what insurers charge here. See what threatens homes in this county

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Cotati, California

A $703,000 home here costs

$5,226

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $224,000 a year.

P&I 73%Tax 9%Insurance 2%Utilities 4%Upkeep 11%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,833. The real number is $1,393 higher every month, 36% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Sonoma County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Cotati median: $702,500
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
CA average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $562,400 borrowed $3,833
Property tax0.821% effective rate for Cotati itself $481
Homeowners insuranceCalifornia averages $1,403/yr (NAIC), or 0.186% of home value $109
Electricity29.75ยข/kWh, California residential average, EIA $150
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $586
Total monthly $5,226

Cotati against Sonoma County and California

MeasureCotatiSonoma County
Median home value$702,500$779,000
Median property tax$5,765$5,580
Effective tax rate0.821%0.716%
Median gross rent$1,899$2,093
Population7,533485,642

The weather behind that power bill

Cotati sits in Sonoma County, which averages a high of 84.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 36.9°F in its coldest, with 33.78" of precipitation a year and 60% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 410 cooling and 2,904 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Sonoma County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Sonoma County

Full Sonoma County cost breakdown · Every county in California

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Cotati averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Cotati every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Cotati I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Cotati?

A $703,000 home in Cotati, California costs approximately $5,226 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $3,833 principal and interest, $481 property tax, $109 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $586 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Cotati?

Cotati has an effective property tax rate of 0.821%, based on a median home value of $702,500 and median real estate taxes of $5,765. That is higher than the Sonoma County average of 0.716%.

What is the average home price in Cotati?

The median owner-occupied home value in Cotati, California is $702,500, against $779,000 across Sonoma County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Cotati?

Median gross rent in Cotati is $1,899 a month, against $5,226 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Cotati?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Cotati, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $224,000 a year. That covers the full $5,226 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Cotati, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for California.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology