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Living in
Rancho Santa Margarita.
About
Life in Rancho Santa Margarita
If you're considering moving here, understand that you're buying into an established master-planned community with strong schools and stable, affluent neighborhoods—but you're also signing on to Orange County's high cost of living and car-dependent suburban sprawl. The median home price hovers around $971,000 and rent averages $2,625 a month, reflecting the area's desirability and the broader Southern California real estate market. The population skews toward families and middle-aged professionals; about 37% of households have children under 18, the median age is 40, and nearly half the adult population holds a college degree.
Rancho Santa Margarita at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Foreign-Born
22.4%
Broadband Internet
96.8%
of households
Population Growth
-4.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Rancho Santa Margarita: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rancho Santa Margarita, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (20.3%), and 12.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.1%
of residents
65 and Older
12.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.0%
of households
Married Couples
64.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Rancho Santa Margarita
In Rancho Santa Margarita, rent runs 29% above the CA average, and home values are 32% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,413
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,003,793 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.6 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Rancho Santa Margarita and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Rancho Santa Margarita is 1.6 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Rancho Santa Margarita Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute26.2 min avg
How Rancho Santa Margarita residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rancho Santa Margarita, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 51 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 66% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rancho Santa Margarita runs 66% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
110.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
461.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rancho Santa Margarita Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orange County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orange County, which includes Rancho Santa Margarita, the most common type is high wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Heavy Rain | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 25 | High Wind | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | High Wind | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 42 | High Wind | $60.0M |
| 2021 | 40 | High Wind | $952,000 |
| 2020 | 30 | High Wind | $105,000 |
| 2019 | 33 | High Surf | $125,500 |
| 2018 | 23 | High Surf | $20,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
149 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Rancho Santa Margarita is about 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Orange County, which includes Rancho Santa Margarita, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
138
per year
Moderate Days
214
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Orange County, county-wide
Rancho Santa Margarita is about 1% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 48°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rancho Santa Margarita has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and warm winters (avg low 48°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
69°/48°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
62
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
50
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 49°F | 2.67" |
| Feb | 71°F | 48°F | 3.47" |
| Mar | 73°F | 50°F | 1.70" |
| Apr | 76°F | 52°F | 0.85" |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 0.34" |
| Jun | 83°F | 59°F | 0.04" |
| Jul | 88°F | 62°F | 0.09" |
| Aug | 90°F | 62°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 89°F | 62°F | 0.10" |
| Oct | 84°F | 58°F | 0.62" |
| Nov | 76°F | 53°F | 0.83" |
| Dec | 68°F | 48°F | 2.34" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rancho Santa Margarita
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Rancho Santa Margarita's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Providence Mission Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Mission Viejo
Children's Hospital at Mission
Childrens · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Mission Viejo
Memorialcare Saddleback Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Laguna Hills
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education24.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rancho Santa Margarita
Rancho Santa Margarita's student/teacher ratio is 24.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 49.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
49.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rancho Santa Margarita (within 15 miles)
University of California-Irvine
14 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,197 students · in-state tuition $16,235 · 88% graduate · median earnings $83,432 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 17,684 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 29% graduate · median earnings $51,222 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,579 students · in-state tuition $1,160 · 26% graduate · median earnings $52,421 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,286 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 33% graduate · median earnings $53,719 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts Global
8.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,491 students · in-state tuition $12,560 · 56% graduate · median earnings $68,286 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 2,363 students · in-state tuition $18,558 · 43% graduate
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 27 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rancho Santa Margarita
Rancho Santa Margarita has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (27 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
27 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
69 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rancho Santa Margarita
Rancho Santa Margarita Branch Library
30902 La Promesa, Rancho Santa Margari
Cities Near Rancho Santa Margarita
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rancho Santa Margarita?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rancho Santa Margarita FAQ
Is Rancho Santa Margarita, California affordable?⌄
Rancho Santa Margarita's median rent is $2,625/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $152,560/year. Median home value is $971,200.
Is Rancho Santa Margarita, California safe?⌄
Rancho Santa Margarita's violent crime rate was 111 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 461 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rancho Santa Margarita, California?⌄
Rancho Santa Margarita has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rancho Santa Margarita, California?⌄
The cost of living in Rancho Santa Margarita is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,625/month and median household income is $152,560/year. The median home value is $971,200. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rancho Santa Margarita, California?⌄
The average commute in Rancho Santa Margarita is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from