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City · 46,990 residents · Orange County, California

Rancho Santa Margarita , California

In Rancho Santa Margarita, a typical home is worth $971,200 and typical rent is $2,625 a month. Compared with all of Orange County, typical household income is 31% higher, typical rent is 8% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 16 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $971,200

    About the same as the county

    32% above California

    • Rancho Santa Margarita
    • Orange
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $2,625a month

    8% above the county

    29% above California

    • Rancho Santa Margarita
    • Orange
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $152,560a year

    31% above the county

    54% above California

    • Rancho Santa Margarita
    • Orange
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    73%

    16 points above the county

    17 points above California

    • Rancho Santa Margarita
    • Orange
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$1,003,793
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,849 a month
4.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Rancho Santa Margarita is in Orange County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Orange County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Rancho Santa Margarita apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 73% of households in Rancho Santa Margarita own their home, against 56% in Orange County.

  2. The typical household income in Rancho Santa Margarita is $152,560, 31% more than in Orange County as a whole ($116,289).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Rancho Santa Margarita

What homes there are in Rancho Santa Margarita, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 54% of homes here, against 49% in Orange County.

Year built

Here half of the homes date from 1992 or later; in Orange County, from 1977 or later.

By size, homes in Rancho Santa Margarita look like those in Orange County: 59% have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$3,476 a month

Orange County: $3,385 a month

Without a mortgage

$983 a month

Orange County: $902 a month

Owners with a mortgage

81%

Orange County: 67%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Rancho Santa Margarita is $3,476 a month, near the figure in Orange County ($3,385).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Rancho Santa Margarita rose 47%; in Orange County, it rose 42%.

The typical rent in Rancho Santa Margarita rose 26% over the same time; in Orange County, it rose 31%.

The typical household income in Rancho Santa Margarita rose 26% over that time; home values changed +47% and rent +26%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureRancho Santa MargaritaOrange CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.4%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 4.3%8.9%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.742.872.842.53
Drive alone 65%68%66%69%
Carpool 8%9%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%3%3%
Work from home 25%19%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer households are short on space in Rancho Santa Margarita: 4.3% have more than one person per room; in Orange County, 8.9%.

By size, households in Rancho Santa Margarita look like those in Orange County: 2.74 people on average.

Many people here do not commute at all: 25% work from home; in Orange County, 19%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Rancho Santa Margarita?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Rancho Santa Margarita, worth $971,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 63% of the typical household income in Rancho Santa Margarita, which is $152,560 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $342,200 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Orange County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Rancho Santa Margarita. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $33,992 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$7,985

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$953,609
Total interest
$1,372,020
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $16,401 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,560 a month

  • Tight

    $3,560 to $4,577 a month

  • Hard

    more than $4,577 a month

    Your payment · 63%

Compared with the typical household income in Rancho Santa Margarita ($152,560 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$7,985
Principal & interest$6,460
Property tax$534
Home insurance$405
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$586

You need at least $33,992 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Rancho Santa Margarita and Orange County

Rancho Santa Margarita is in Orange County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Rancho Santa Margarita's own numbers

Typical home value
$971,200
Typical monthly rent
$2,625
Typical yearly household income
$152,560
Households that own their home
73%
Effective property tax rate
0.66%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Orange County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$3,057
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Orange County.

Everything about Orange County

Buying

Buying a home in Rancho Santa Margarita

A typical home in Rancho Santa Margarita is worth $971,200: about the same as the county and 32% above California. With the typical household income in Rancho Santa Margarita ($152,560 a year), a typical home costs 6.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Rancho Santa Margarita 6.4 years
  • Orange 8.3 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Orange County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Orange County rose 89% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Orange County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.3% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +89% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Rancho Santa Margarita next to Orange County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Rancho Santa Margarita $971,200
  • Orange $962,600
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Rancho Santa Margarita $2,625
  • Orange $2,434
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Rancho Santa Margarita $152,560
  • Orange $116,289
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Rancho Santa Margarita next to Orange County and California
Measure Rancho Santa Margarita Orange County California U.S.
Typical home value $971,200 $962,600 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,625 $2,434 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $152,560 $116,289 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 73% 56% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $6,413 $6,330 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.66% 0.66% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 57% 57% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Orange County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Rancho Santa Margarita

For a typical $971,200 home in Rancho Santa Margarita, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Rancho Santa Margarita's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $7,985a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $33,992
    Cash to close
    $63,128
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $586

  • Conventional, 5% down $7,650a month

    Down payment
    $48,560
    Cash to close
    $77,696
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $461

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $6,202a month

    Down payment
    $194,240
    Cash to close
    $223,376
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $7,100a month

    Down payment
    $145,680
    Cash to close
    $174,816
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Rancho Santa Margarita and for Orange County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Rancho Santa Margarita

0.66%of the home’s value each year

$6,413 a year for the typical owner in Rancho Santa Margarita.

  • Rancho Santa Margarita 0.66%
  • Orange 0.66%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Orange County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Orange County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.8%
22,389
Of those, with NFIP insurance
19%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.8% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 19% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Rancho Santa Margarita

Typical rent in Rancho Santa Margarita is $2,625 a month: 8% above the county. In Rancho Santa Margarita, 57% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Orange County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,057 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $58.79 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Orange County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,580 $49.62 $103,200
1 bedroom $2,610 $50.19 $104,400
2 bedrooms $3,057 $58.79 $122,280
3 bedrooms $4,153 $79.87 $166,120
4 bedrooms $4,964 $95.46 $198,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Rancho Santa Margarita

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Rancho Santa Margarita has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,340 in 92688 to $4,140 in 92679.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Orange County ($3,057).

  • 92679 $4,140$5,620
  • 92688 $3,340$4,540

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Rancho Santa Margarita when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Rancho Santa Margarita

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 10 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Orange County; 6 say they serve in Spanish.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Rancho Santa Margarita

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Rancho Santa Margarita or Orange County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Rancho Santa Margarita the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Rancho Santa Margarita

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Rancho Santa Margarita, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Affordable Housing Clearinghouse

    23201 Lake Center Dr Ste 203, Lake Forest · 7 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 2 more
    (949) 859-9255

  • Greenpath Financial Wellness

    5151 California Ave, Irvine · 15 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (866) 217-0543

  • Orange County Fair Housing Council, Inc

    2021 E 4th St, Santa Ana · 16 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (714) 569-0823

Every agency in Orange County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Rancho Santa Margarita

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Rancho Santa Margarita

HUD’s record names them for Rancho Santa Margarita or Orange County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

3 other authorities have an office in Orange County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Orange County

These cities are also in Orange County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Orange County Housing in California
See 28 more cities in Orange County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Rancho Santa Margarita, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Orange County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Rancho Santa Margarita.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Rancho Santa Margarita

Short answers with the numbers for Rancho Santa Margarita and all of Orange County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Rancho Santa Margarita?

The typical home value in Rancho Santa Margarita is $971,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Orange County it is $962,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Rancho Santa Margarita?

Typical rent in Rancho Santa Margarita is $2,625 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Orange County is $3,057.

What is the FHA loan limit in Rancho Santa Margarita?

Rancho Santa Margarita uses the FHA limit for all of Orange County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Rancho Santa Margarita?

The typical homeowner in Rancho Santa Margarita pays $6,413 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.66% of the home’s value; in Orange County, the rate is 0.66%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Rancho Santa Margarita?

There are 10 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Orange County. 6 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).