How many renters in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

56.6% (±7.6 points) of renting households in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

49.3% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 34.5% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 56.6% (±7.6 points)
Paying 35% or more: 49.3% (±6.8 points)
Median share of income: 34.5% (±4.5 points)

Rent as a share of income in Rancho Santa Margarita

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Rancho Santa Margarita	Orange County	California	United States
Less than 15%	6.6% (±2.9 points)	8.8%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	8.6% (±3.6 points)	10.7%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	16.9% (±4.9 points)	11.8%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.3% (±4.2 points)	12.0%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	7.3% (±3.3 points)	9.6%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	49.3% (±6.8 points)	47.0%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Rancho Santa Margarita against Orange County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Rancho Santa Margarita	Orange County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	56.6% (±7.6 points)	56.6% (±0.8 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	49.3% (±6.8 points)	47.0% (±0.7 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	34.5% (±4.5 points)	33.4% (±0.4 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$100,301 (±$14,796)	$86,153 (±$1,044)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$2,625 (±$120)	$2,434 (±$13)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In Rancho Santa Margarita, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Orange County (56.6%).

It is not measurably different from California (55.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Orange County, Rancho Santa Margarita ranks 24 of 42 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 481 of 1,067.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Rancho Santa Margarita

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rancho Santa Margarita
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Rancho Santa Margarita	—	56.6% (±7.6 points)	—
Coto de Caza	2.5 mi	62.5% (±24.5 points)	Not measurably different
Trabuco Canyon	3.2 mi	17.6% (±75.5 points)	Not measurably different
Las Flores	3.6 mi	61.4% (±29.1 points)	Not measurably different
Mission Viejo	3.7 mi	57.7% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different
Lake Forest	4.7 mi	62.2% (±6.7 points)	Not measurably different
Ladera Ranch	6.3 mi	68.9% (±14.1 points)	Not measurably different
Laguna Hills	6.3 mi	67.4% (±10.2 points)	Not measurably different
Laguna Woods	7.7 mi	75.7% (±8.5 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Laguna Woods, CA (75.7%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Orange County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
18	Garden Grove	59.7% (±3.2 points)
19	Stanton	58.3% (±6.2 points)
20 (tie)	Laguna Niguel	57.7% (±6.5 points)
20 (tie)	Mission Viejo	57.7% (±5.6 points)
22	Placentia	57.4% (±6.5 points)
23 (tie)	Aliso Viejo	56.6% (±6.9 points)
23 (tie)	Rancho Santa Margarita	56.6% (±7.6 points)
25	San Clemente	56.0% (±6.0 points)
26	Cypress	55.6% (±6.6 points)
27	Seal Beach	54.3% (±7.8 points)
28	Santa Ana	53.6% (±2.4 points)
29	Orange	53.5% (±3.7 points)
30	Brea	53.3% (±5.8 points)

Showing 13 of 42 places in Orange County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Rancho Santa Margarita

Are renters in Rancho Santa Margarita rent-burdened?

56.6% of renting households in Rancho Santa Margarita pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Rancho Santa Margarita spend on rent?

The median renting household in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA spends 34.5% (±4.5 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Rancho Santa Margarita city, California (place:59587, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.