Rancho Santa Margarita, CA—92688
Real Estate Data & Market Trends
Key Metrics at a Glance
Home Price Trends — Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
As of Oct '25, the median home price in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is $1,004,000, with a year-over-year change of -0.3%. This indicates that home prices in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA are flat. According to Zillow, the 1-year price projection is 1.1%, suggesting an increase housing market in the next year.
Cost per Home Type
| Home Type | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
All Homes | $1,004,000 | -0.3% |
| Single Family | $1,190,000 | -1.1% |
| Condos | $671,000 | -2.8% |
Cost per Home Size
| Home Size | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
1 Bed | $459,000 | -4.2% |
2 Bed | $657,000 | -2.5% |
3 Bed | $1,028,000 | -0.9% |
4 Bed | $1,324,000 | -1.1% |
| 5 Bed | $1,591,000 | -0.4% |
% of Housing Stock
Rental Trends — Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
As of July '25, Rentcast reports the average rent in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is $3,460, with a year-over-year rent change of -1.7%. Per bedroom, the median rent as of July '25 in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is 1-bedrooms: $2,560, 2-bedrooms: $3,150, 3-bedrooms: $4,340, 4-bedrooms: $5,880. The most common rental property sizes in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA are 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom, accounting for 42.9% and 29.5% of the rental stock.
| Type | Median Rent | Average Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,150 | $3,460 |
| Studio Rent | N/A | N/A |
| 1 Bed Rent | $2,580 | $2,560 |
| 2 Bed Rent | $3,150 | $3,150 |
| 3 Bed Rent | $4,200 | $4,340 |
| 4 Bed Rent | $5,800 | $5,880 |
% of Rental Stock
Property Listings — Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
As of Oct '25, Realtor.com reports that the median days on market for a home in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is 56. This is a increase of 29.0% from last year, suggesting that homes are sitting on the market longer than last year. The percentage of listed homes with a reduced price is 30.0%, representing a large inventory and a lot of supply pressure on home prices.
| Metric | Zip Code Average | Year over Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
Median Listing Price | $900,000 | -9.0% |
Listing Count | 113 | 41.0% |
| Listings as % of Homes | 0.3% | 41.0% |
Days on Market | 56 | 29.0% |
Demographics — Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA has a population of 43,900, which has decreased by -2.7% over the past 5 years. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is a moderately popular place for families, as children make up 23.3% of the population. The area has a highly educated workforce, with 48.6% of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are some residents working remotely, with 19.3% reporting working from home.
| Metric | Latest Census | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
Population | 43,900 | -2.7% |
% Under 18 | 23.3% | -13.7% |
% Seniors | 10.3% | 37.3% |
% WFH | 19.3% | 196.9% |
% w/ College Degree | 48.6% | -4.1% |
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is a predominantly white area, with 57.7% of the population identifying as white. The white population has shrunk by 2.9% in the last 5 years. The second most common race or ethnicity in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is hispanic, making up 21.6% of the population. Foreign-born residents account for 22.5% of the population in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, and this percentage has increased by 23.0% as of the ACS Survey 5 years prior, suggesting more immigrants are calling the area home.
Race and Ethnicity
| Metric | Latest Census | 5-Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
% White | 57.7% | -2.9% |
% Black | 1.1% | -60.7% |
% Hispanic | 21.6% | 1.4% |
% Asian | 13.3% | 6.4% |
% Foreign Born | 22.5% | 23.0% |
Mortgage and Risk — Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA lacks sufficient mortgage origination data for analysis.
Mortgages
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
Total Loan Originations | N/A |
% Conventional Loans | N/A |
% Government Loans | N/A |
% Investor Loans | N/A |
% Second Loans | N/A |
% Cash Out Refinance | N/A |
Loan Activity
No data available
Rentals and Section 8 — Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
As of 2024, the percent of homes in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA under the Section 8 program is 3.8%. This is considered low, suggesting that the neighborhood is sparsely composed of Section 8 homes. Section 8 opportunity is good when HUD pays more than market rent. 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units appear to be good home sizes to consider for Section 8 housing in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, because HUD payments exceed market rent, while 4-bedroom units do not.
Section 8 Market Size
Total Units under HUD | 176 |
Total Units Section 8 | 176 |
% Rentals under Section 8 | 3.8% |
% Occupied Section 8 | 83.0% |
Section 8 Opportunity
| Home Size | HUD Premium | Market Rent | Max HUD Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $170 | $2,580 | $2,750 |
| 2 Bedroom | $100 | $3,150 | $3,250 |
| 3 Bedroom | $200 | $4,200 | $4,400 |
| 4 Bedroom | -$550 | $5,800 | $5,250 |
Affordability — Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Home Price to Income Ratio
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
| Home Price to Income Ratio | 6.2 |
| Median Home Price | $1,004,000 |
| Median Household Income | $142,000 |