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Dylan Hughes best-worst

Things that make Rancho Santa Margarita unique

OK so I'm a 45-year-old mechanic and It's a a smaller city city with about 47,257 people. The unemployment rate is 2.9%, which is pretty low. Rent is about $2,481/month for a decent place. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Night life is decent if you know the right spots. I'd say it's better for families than young singles.

Pros:
- Friendly people
- Low taxes
- Lots of new development
- Good internet infrastructure

Cons:
- Limited public transit
- Cold winters
- Lack of diversity
- Not enough green space
Any advice would be great. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The weather takes some getting used to. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. The suburbs are where most families end up. The weather takes some getting used to. The suburbs are where most families end up. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
12 upvotes

12 Replies

jackson_heart
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I love the pace of life here. It's not for everyone but it works for us..
40 upvotes
Colton R.
Weather-wise, the summers are surprisingly good and winters are pricey. You get used to it after the first year.
36 upvotes
Logan Hill
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.

I'm a social worker who relocated here from Chicago about 13 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and quality of life.

Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Good schools in most areas
- Strong job market in several industries

Cons that are real:
- Traffic during rush hour is rough
- Urban sprawl is real

Financially, we've found it underrated compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are developing, gas is challenging.

Socially, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. Good luck with whatever you decide..
35 upvotes
willow_kid
haha yep pretty much
29 upvotes
urban_melanie64
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it was the best decision I ever made. Internet is excellent in most areas.
29 upvotes
Avery Jackson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.

If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The food scene is genuinely decent and I've found it's exactly what I was looking for. My neighborhood (The Heights) is wild and I feel safe walking around at night.

But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. walkability is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.

My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
20 upvotes
James Patel
Hot take but it's improved dramatically in recent years. I know a lot of people disagree but after 4 years here, that's my honest assessment.
17 upvotes
Leonardo Bailey
lol so true
15 upvotes
Russell P.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:

Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in South. It's underrated for what you get.

Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in legal. If you're in manufacturing you might struggle.

People: Generally tough. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.

Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Vietnamese.

It's not for everyone but it works for us..
12 upvotes
Ava
couldn't agree more
12 upvotes
Bella Adams
wish I knew this sooner
3 upvotes
Weston Walker
been saying this for years
0 upvotes
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