Median Age
41 Years
Largest Age Group
55-64 Years
Approximately 16% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
15%
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$2,549
Population
44,780
Renter Mix
31% Rent
A quiet Irvine suburb surrounded by California’s natural beauty
Close-Knit
•
Commuter
•
Nature
Rancho Santa Margarita is a small, suburban city located 20 miles east of Irvine and roughly halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. The community is nestled against the Santa Ana Mountains, giving outdoorsy folks enviable access to the mountains and forests. In town, O’Neill Regional Park is full of hiking trails to explore while Central Park hosts community events including summer movie nights.
With some of the best public schools, well-maintained neighborhoods, natural beauty, and modern amenities, Rancho Santa Margarita is an ideal spot to settle down. Find tight-knit communities all throughout town as well as an array of apartments, single-family homes, condos, and townhomes for rent.
Explore the City
Homes in Rancho Santa Margarita have perfectly trimmed lawns and lush landscaping.
Take a stroll around the lake at Rancho Santa Margarita Lake Park in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Trabuco Mesa Park is one of the largest parks in Rancho Santa Margarita with various amenities.
Families can watch softball games at Trabuco Mesa Park in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Rancho Santa Margarita Lake Park is popular for walking around the lake and enjoying the views.
A family enjoys the mountain views at Rancho Santa Margarita Lake Park.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$142,405
Average: $166,846
Education
17,904
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
25,390
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Rancho Santa Margarita has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
31%
Non-Renters
69%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
35%
Other Education
65%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is $2,040 for a studio, $2,549 for one bedroom, $3,153 for two bedrooms, and $3,860 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Rancho Santa Margarita has increased by 2.9% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,549/month
714 Sq Ft
House
$5,502/month
2,039 Sq Ft
Condo
$3,530/month
981 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
328 Students
Public
Grades K-5
328 Students
Arroyo Vista Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
508 Students
Public
Grades K-5
950 Students
Melinda Heights Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
950 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
329 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
329 Students
Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate
Public
Grades 6-8
1,153 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Starr Ranch Sanctuary
- O'Neill Regional Park
- Riley Wilderness Park
- Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
- Tree of Life Nursery
Airports
- John Wayne/Orange County
- Ontario International
Top Apartments in Rancho Santa Margarita
Houses for Rent in Rancho Santa Margarita
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.