Livability Score

74
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities A

There are lots of amenities close to this location.
Coffee (8) C-
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Nektar Juice Bar
Coffee Shop
Little Miss Donut
Coffee Shop
Boba R Us
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
KD's Donuts
Coffee Shop
Ding Tea
Coffee Shop
Bagels and Brew
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Surfin Donuts
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (6) F
Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas
Cinema
Amphitheater
Theatre Arts
Trabuco Fliers Club
Attraction
Food and Drink (29) A+
Subway
Fast Food
Chipotle
Fast Food
Baskin-Robbins
Sweets
Papa John's
Fast Food
Del Taco
Fast Food
Bruegger's Bagels
Fast Food
Five Guys
Fast Food
Yogurtland
Sweets
Daily's Sports Grill
Bar
Wingstop
Fast Food
Wingstop
Fast Food
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream
Sweets
Flame Broiler
Fast Food
El Pollo Loco
Fast Food
BevMo!
Alcohol
Panera Bread
Fast Food
KFC
Fast Food
Pick Up Sticks
Fast Food
Rubio's
Fast Food
Wendy's
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
In-N-Out Burger
Fast Food
Mesa Market Wine & Spirits
Alcohol
Carl's Jr.
Fast Food
Little Caesars
Fast Food
Fitness (1) F
24 Hour Fitness
Gym
Canyon Crest Clubhouse
Community Centre
Batting Cages
Community Centre
North Mission Viejo Little League
Community Centre
Natadores Swim Club
Community Centre
Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center
Community Centre
LA Fitness
Gym
Groceries (5) F
Pavilions
Grocery Store
Walmart Neighborhood Market
Grocery Store
Trader Joe's
Grocery Store
Ralphs
Grocery Store
Smart & Final Extra!
Grocery Store
Albertsons
Grocery Store
Ralphs
Grocery Store
Sprouts Farmers Market
Grocery Store
Smart & Final
Grocery Store
Parks (41) A+
Vista Verde Park Playground
Playground
Vista Verde Park
Park
Los Abanicos Trail Playground
Playground
Los Paseos Trail Playground
Playground
Rancho Santa Margarita City Park
Park
Arroyo Vista Park
Park
Cielo Vista Park
Park
Monte Vista
Park
Estrella Vista Park
Park
Dove Canyon Park
Park
Solano Park
Park
Dove Canyon Community Park
Park
Canada Vista
Park
Melinda Park
Park
Trabuco Mesa Park Playground
Playground
Trabuco Mesa Park
Park
Florence Joyner Olympiad Park
Park
Florence Joyner Park
Park
Country Hollow Lane Playground
Playground
Ike Arnold Playground
Playground
Ike Arnold
Park
Country Hollow Lane Park
Park
Altisima Park
Park
Castlewood Park
Park
Cypress Point Park
Park
Shops (27) A+
Petlingo
Pets
PetSmart
Pets
LensCrafters
Optician
Phenix Salon Suites
Beauty
AT&T
Electronics
Big Lots
Department Store
Bed Bath & Beyond
Houseware
Fantastic Sams
Hairdresser
Sport Clips
Hairdresser
Kohl's
Department Store
Ross
Department Store
Tillys
Clothing
Supercuts
Hairdresser
Target
Department Store
Sears
Department Store
OC Hair And Makeup
Beauty
18/8 Fine Men's Salons
Beauty
ampm
Convenience Store
Lowe's
Home Improvement
T-Mobile
Electronics
Food Mart
Convenience Store
Ulta Beauty
Beauty
Verizon
Electronics
Salon 74
Beauty
Circle K
Convenience Store
See more Rancho Santa Margarita amenity data

commute F

Of all people who commute, 0.2% take public transportation in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Public Transit Stops (7)
Stops & Stations
F
OCTA
Bus Stop
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Bus Stop
Workers Taking Public Transit
0.2%
F
See more Rancho Santa Margarita commute data

cost of living F

The cost of living in Rancho Santa Margarita is 175/100 - which is 25% higher than California.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
F
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
F
See more Rancho Santa Margarita cost of living data

crime A+

Rancho Santa Margarita crime rates are 508 per 100k, which is 82% lower than California
Property Crime
469 crimes per 100k
A+
Violent Crime
38 crimes per 100k
A+
See more Rancho Santa Margarita crime data

employment A+

The median income in Rancho Santa Margarita is $125,329 - which is 96% higher than California.
Med. Household Income
$125,329
A+
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
A+
See more Rancho Santa Margarita employment data

health C-

There are many hospitals, police and fire stations.
Health & Safety (10)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
A+
RSM Dental Group
Dentist
OCFA Station 45
Fire Station
Pavilions Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Marque Urgent Care
Clinic
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Elite Dentistry
Dentist
Walgreens
Pharmacy
Rite Aid
Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Orange County Fire Authority Station #18
Fire Station
OCFA Station 31
Fire Station
OCFA Station 40
Fire Station
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Avalon Dentistry
Dentist
Remarkable Smiles Orthodontics
Dentist
OCFA Station 42
Fire Station
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
F
See more Rancho Santa Margarita health & safety data

housing B+

Rancho Santa Margarita home prices are $679,500 - which is 66% higher than California
Home Price
$679,500
A+
Home Appreciation Rate
14%
A-
Home Affordability
5.4x (home price to income ratio)
F
See more Rancho Santa Margarita housing data

schools A+

The Rancho Santa Margarita graduation rate is 94% - which is 18% higher than California
School Test Scores
67%
C+
High School Grad. Rates
94%
A+
Elementary Schools (16) A+
Kingdom Life Academy
Rsm Montessori School
Tijeras Creek Elementary
Kindercare Learning Centers # 1535
Rancho Viejo Montessori School
Dba Mission Hills Christian School
Montessori At The Park
Arroyo Vista Middle
Arroyo Vista Elementary
Serra Catholic School
Cielo Vista Elementary
Trabuco Mesa Elementary
Trabuco Elementary
Svusd Virtual Academy
Melinda Heights Elementary
Robinson Elementary
Philip J. Reilly Elementary/Special Education
Hillside Montessori School
Leport Schools - Irvine Spectrum North Campus
Heritage Christian School-Lower
Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County
Oxford Preparatory Academy - South Orange County
Del Lago Elementary
Wagon Wheel Elementary
Las Flores Middle
High Schools (2) F
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Svusd Virtual Academy
Trabuco Hills High
Heritage Christian School-Lower
St Michael'S Prep School
Tesoro High
National Univ Acad Homesch/Independent Study Orange Co
See more Rancho Santa Margarita education data

ratings A+

Rancho Santa Margarita has an overall rating of 94% from 20 reviews.
User Reviews (2)
From AreaVibes
A+
User Surveys (18)
From AreaVibes
A+
See more Rancho Santa Margarita user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
Photo of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
( 20 Ratings )

Living in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Rancho Santa Margarita Area Facts

  • Rancho Santa Margarita has a Livability Score of 74/100, which is considered excellent
  • Rancho Santa Margarita crime rates are 82% lower than the California average
  • Cost of living in Rancho Santa Margarita is 25% higher than the California average
New Real Estate Listings in Rancho Santa Margarita Area
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Rancho Santa Margarita Reviews

Write a review about Rancho Santa Margarita Tell people what you like or don't like about Rancho Santa Margarita…
Homeowner 20 years 5 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 31, 2018) RSM gives us the small town feel of running into someone you know everyday at the grocery store, gas station or restaurant, while having 10 minute access to big city Irvive amenities. We are 1/2 hour from the beach and 1 hour from Arrowhead or Palm Springs. Surrounded by rolling ...Read More hills and the backdrop of Saddleback mountains it truly is the ‘Best of the Best.Yes cost of living is way too high it lives up to the phrase “You get what you pay for”!Safe, fun, golf, hiking, road and mountain bike riding, monthly city activities, great education, family friendly and a bit slower pace than LA and OC. Read Less
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Wild, Wooly and Wonderful 4.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 25, 2012) That pretty much describes Rancho Santa Margarita in Southern California. If you are looking for a natural setting; close to cities and beaches. If you don't mind wild life creatures and you want to slow down your pace and that of your family; you should consider moving there. I ...Read More did and I miss it daily since I left, if I could move back...I'd be packing right now.

Richard O"Neill and James Flood, known as the "Silver King of Nevada", bought the land from Joaquin Estrada in 1841. Richard O"Neill saw great potential in the land for grazing his cattle and farming. Since O"Neill was a older gentleman he made it his goal to buy out James Flood as soon as he could and the land produced well for him. He was out of debt in 24 years a very short period of time to repay that amount of money.

Rancho Santa Margarita is a master planned community with mostly single family homes and some apartments and condos. It is the youngest city in Orange County and it is has the most affluent neighborhoods. Dove Canyon is a gated subdivision where many stars, athletes and well known people live. Most of the land surrounding Rancho Santa Margarita is still grazing fields and open land. It is located a short distance from Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Laguna and San Juan Capistrano. It also has San Juan Hot Springs within its borders where Richard O"Neill Jr. opened the first spa and hotel in 1890.

The area has continued to grow and expand into the surrounding hills and valleys. The people who reside there love the outdoors and their privacy. Rancho Santa Margarita boosts 13 parks, 4 pools, a lagoon, a lake and dozens of trails for hiking, horseback or motorcycle riding. The city also has a huge dog park and a challenging skate board arena. On Sundays free concerts are held in the central park located next to city hall. The variety of music provided is wonderful. Just bring family, friends, blankets or chairs and all the food you can carry for a relaxing evening in the park.
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Rancho Santa Margarita Awards

Compare Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Livability

      vs

      A Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Rancho Santa Margarita? Yes, there are lots of amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Vista Verde Park Playground
      Vista Verde Park
      Los Abanicos Trail Playground
      Los Paseos Trail Playground
      Rancho Santa Margarita City Park
      Arroyo Vista Park
      Cielo Vista Park
      Monte Vista

      Entertainment

      Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas
      Amphitheater
      Trabuco Fliers Club

      Food & Drink

      Subway
      Chipotle
      Baskin-Robbins
      Papa John's
      Del Taco
      Bruegger's Bagels
      Five Guys
      Yogurtland

      B- Commute

      Is public transit available in Rancho Santa Margarita? Of all people who commute, 0.2% take public transportation in Rancho Santa Margarita.
      Drive to Work
      78%

      1% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      0%

      5% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      1%

      2% lower than the US average

      A Health & Safety

      Is Rancho Santa Margarita a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are many hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Pharmacies

      Pavilions Pharmacy
      CVS Pharmacy
      Walgreens
      CVS Pharmacy
      Rite Aid
      CVS Pharmacy

      Doctors