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McSwain vs Cotati

135 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (5.5× in Cotati) and kids under 18 (+14.6 pts in McSwain).

M ×
McSwain, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 5,783 people
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Cotati, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 7,489 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

McSwainOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 53%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about McSwain →
CotatiAn outdoors town
Outdoors#140 most walkable in CA3.3 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves SchoolsBetter than 62%of CA districts HealthHealthier than 84%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Cotati →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Street grid5.5×
Cotati has the more walkable street grid
Cotati 120McSwain 22.0
Kids under 18+14.6 pts
McSwain has more kids
McSwain 30.8%Cotati 16.2%
Jobs per worker2.3×
Cotati is more of a job hub
Cotati 0.79McSwain 0.34
Work from home+9.7 pts
More people work from home in Cotati
Cotati 15.2%McSwain 5.5%
Homeowners+14.6 pts renters
Cotati has more renters
McSwain 73.8%Cotati 59.2%
Property tax bill+26%
Tax bills are bigger in Cotati
Cotati $5,514McSwain $4,377
★ What stands out · Report cards

Cotati places higher on 9 of 17 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–McSwainNot graded B−CotatiSafer than 50% of U.S. towns
Schools
–McSwainNot graded BCotatiBetter than 62% of districts in the state
Health
B−McSwainHealthier than 53% of U.S. towns A−CotatiHealthier than 84% of U.S. towns
8McSwain
9Cotati

Lists won, of 17 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most walkableOutdoors · 841 towns #735#140 Most remote workersWork · 801 towns #686#343 Lowest depressionHealth · 844 towns #420#762 Most activeHealth · 844 towns #495#161 Shortest commuteGetting around · 843 towns #180#463 HealthiestHealth · 844 towns #498#219 Cheapest rentCost of living · 830 towns #213#483 Lowest obesityHealth · 844 towns #502#247

Left end = #1 in California. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of McSwain’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $270 more a month in Cotati

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

McSwain$3,980/mo
Typical home $690K (Census) · tax rate 0.63% · or rent about $1,516/mo · Housing →
Cotati$4,250/mo
Typical home $726K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $2,056/mo · Housing →

The difference: $270 a month, about $3,200 a year, between Cotati and McSwain.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
McSwainCotati
Snow a year0″0″
January low37°F39°F
July high95°F81°F
Growing season (days)263d271d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)60th94th
Outdoors & history
McSwainCotati
Trails—3 mi
Conserved land—3.5%
Settled—1963
National Register places1—
Archive photos—3
Famous people born here—2
Community
McSwainCotati
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

135 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

McSwainCACotatiCA
McSwain ↔ Cotati135 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

McSwainCotati
People
Population 5,783Lowest 7,489Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.4%Highest CA: +6.1% +4.4%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 33.8±5.4Lowest 11% below CA 38.5±2.6Highest about the CA average
Cotati and McSwain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 30.8%±6.4Highest CA: 22% 16.2%±3.6Lowest CA: 22%
Age 65+ 9.8%±2.2Lowest CA: 15.7% 16%±3.8Highest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 33.6%Lowest CA: 37.1% 37.6%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.8%±2.6Highest CA: 7.6% 7.7%±2.4Lowest CA: 7.6%
McSwain and Cotati are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $139,131±$23kHighest 40% above CA $110,750±$19kLowest 12% above CA
McSwain and Cotati are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $690,100±$49kLowest 6% below CA $746,800±$49kHighest about the CA average
Cotati and McSwain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,516±$695Lowest 26% below CA $2,056±$266Highest about the CA average
Cotati and McSwain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,377Lowest 15% below CA $5,514Highest 8% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 27.2%±9.3Lowest CA: 55.3% 42.3%±8.9Highest CA: 55.3%
Cotati and McSwain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 17.1%Highest CA: 12% 8.2%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 73.8%Highest CA: 55.9% 59.2%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1995Highest 19 yrs newer than CA 1984Lowest 8 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minLowest 20% below CA 29 minHighest about the CA average
Work from home 5.5%±2.7Lowest CA: 17.2% 15.2%±4.6Highest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 1.7%Lowest 4.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 19.8 miHighest 11.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.34Lowest 0.79Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Merced (20%)Santa Rosa (17%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CotatiFew work in McSwain
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 3.5%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 3.3 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 1.7 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 11Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 22.0Lowest 120Highest
Schools
School district —Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified
High school in town —None in town
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

McSwain neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to McSwain’s Town Square.

Cotati neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Cotati’s Town Square.

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Bordering McSwain

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Atwater32,162 people · $363K homes

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks California towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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