2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Highlands, NC vs Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Rancho Santa Margarita older or younger than people in Highlands?
- The Median Age in Rancho Santa Margarita is 20.5 years younger than in Highlands.

Are housing costs cheaper in Rancho Santa Margarita or Highlands?
- Rancho Santa Margarita housing costs are 8.7% more expensive than Highlands housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Rancho Santa Margarita or Highlands?
- The average commute for residents of Rancho Santa Margarita is 8.7 minutes longer than it is for residents of Highlands.

Things to do in Highlands?
Living in Highlands, NC is an absolute dream. With its charming downtown area and breathtaking mountain views, it's easy to see why so many people choose to call this small town home. The community is incredibly welcoming and it's not hard to make friends or find a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. There are plenty of outdoor activities perfect for all ages, from hiking trails that offer stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to picturesque lakes for fishing and swimming. Residents also enjoy a range of excellent restaurants, boutique shops, galleries, and festivals throughout the year. All in all, Highlands is a wonderful place to call home!

Things to do in Rancho Santa Margarita?
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA resides within Orange County’s metropolitan limits providing direct access attractions events that take place surrounding area due its prime location as well population size close 48 thousand people makes perfect spot anyone looking exciting city life without having live too far from Los Angeles other Southern California cities!

 Highlands, NCRancho Santa Margarita, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock48,190329,725,481
 Median Income$52,070  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.738.4
 Avg. Home Price$794,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.3%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time21.36  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Highlands    4 Reviews

Love BestPlaces, but most of their statistics are incorrect for the actual town of Highlands which is extremely expensive. I assume they are using information from Macon  More

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Over 4 years ago

This used to be a quaint, quiet, sweet little town, but it has ballooned into a rich man's Mecca. Fist of all, it's a tiny town... so parking is at a premium and it gets  More

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Over 14 years ago

I have run two businesses in Highlands. It is a very seasonal business trend. The rents are high and so is the cost of doing business, including labor cost, cost of  More

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Reviews for Rancho Santa Margarita    13 Reviews

This page provides little information on RSM. I see they keep describing the area as "outside of Los Angeles." Culturally, it is so far from Los Angeles (I lived in LA,  More

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Over 10 years ago

The weather here is amazing. We get a few hot days in the summer but it cools down in the evening. I love being able to sleep with the windows  More

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This is the best place to live in South Orange County with mild temperatures, low crime, great schools and family orientated. RSM is a city that sits in a pocket backing  More

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