Residential comparison · 13 facts
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA vs San Clemente, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Rancho Santa Margarita needs about $83,000 in San Clemente to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from San Clemente, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $87,000 in Rancho Santa Margarita.
A few differences
- Rancho Santa Margarita is higher on median household income ($152,560 vs $140,062).
- Rancho Santa Margarita is lower on cost of living index (162 vs 182).
- San Clemente is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,572/mo vs $2,835/mo).
Rancho Santa Margarita vs San Clemente · facet by facet
| Facet | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | San Clemente, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $971,200 | $1,398,400 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,835/mo | $2,572/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 162 | 182 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $152,560 | $140,062 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA · San Clemente, CA
Questions & answers
- Is Rancho Santa Margarita cheaper than San Clemente?
- Rancho Santa Margarita has the lower day-to-day cost index (162 vs 182 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in San Clemente equals $85,000 in Rancho Santa Margarita?
- A household earning $85,000 in Rancho Santa Margarita needs about $83,000 in San Clemente to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of San Clemente lifestyle costs about $87,000 in Rancho Santa Margarita.