Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
At a Glance
Median Income
$146,827
$63,535 per capita
Home Value
$907,900
Zillow: $1,004,697
Median Rent
$2,481/mo
35.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
83/100K
526/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
48.8%
94.6% high school+
Unemployment
4.0%
4.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
23.4%
8.3% smoking rate
How Rancho Santa Margarita Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Rancho Santa Margarita's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Rancho Santa Margarita a Good Place to Live?
B
3.4 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Rancho Santa Margarita residents earn a median household income of $146,827 , which is 95% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $63,535. The unemployment rate stands at 4.0% (11% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 4.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 148,394 business establishments, including 8,853 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Rancho Santa Margarita is $907,900 , 222% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $1,004,697. Median rent is $2,481/month, with 35.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1992.
Safety & Crime
Rancho Santa Margarita reports 83 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 78% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 526/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
48.8% of adults in Rancho Santa Margarita hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(45% above the national average).
94.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Rancho Santa Margarita has an average annual temperature of 67°F (19°C).
Winters average 59°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 13.1 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 54.
Data Overview
People
Population47,257
Median Age40.3 yrs
Density3,655/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born21.5%
Veterans4.4%
Economy
A+
Median Income$146,827
Per Capita$63,535
Unemployment4.0%
Poverty4.7%
County GDP$351,753M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,565
Housing
B
Home Value$907,900
Rent$2,481
Ownership73.4%
Zillow$1,004,697
Housing Units17,150
Rent Burden35.1%
Crime
F
Violent83/100K
Property526/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault64/100K
Burglary72/100K
Health
Obesity23.4%
Diabetes8.2%
Smoking8.3%
Heart Disease4.3%
Premature Death5,325/100K
Climate
Avg Temp67°F
Rain13.1 in/yr
AQI54 (Moderate)
Elevation925 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+48.8%
High School+94.6%
Graduate+16.4%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 47% / D 50%
Commute27 min
Broadband96.6%
Internet Speed153 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries67
Did You Know?
Rancho Santa Margarita was founded in 2000.
The median home in Rancho Santa Margarita was built in 1992.
22.6% work from home.
The nearest airport is John Wayne/Orange County (16 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.468 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
9.0% of the population has a disability.
21.5% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 153 Mbps.
There are 8,853 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 238 fatal vehicle crashes.
364 declared natural disasters on record.