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2025 Compare Cities Housing:
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
- The median age of a home in Rancho Santa Margarita is 79.3% younger than the median age of a home in Santa Cruz.
 Rancho Santa Margarita, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Median Home Age29  Unlock42
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Home Appr. Last 12 months22.3%  Unlock16.6%
 Home Appr. Last 5 yrs.  Unlock34.8%57.0%
 Home Appr. Last 10 yrs.109.2%  Unlock101.1%
 Property Tax Rate  Unlock$6.2$11.0
 Homes Owned70.9%  Unlock57.4%
 Housing Vacant  Unlock8.2%11.2%
 Homes Rented27.4%  Unlock31.4%
 space
 Avg Rent For Home Or Apartment
 Rancho Santa Margarita, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Average Rent  Unlock$4,500$1,840
 Studio Apartment$2,340  Unlock$1,080
 1 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$2,800$1,180
 2 Bedroom Home or Apartment$3,070  Unlock$1,430
 3 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$4,560$1,860
 4 Bedroom Home or Apartment$4,870  Unlock$2,160
 space1
 Vacant Housing
 Rancho Santa Margarita, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Vacant For Rent  Unlock0.9%1.9%
 Vacant Rented0.2%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant For Sale  Unlock0.6%0.7%
 Vacant Sold0.2%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant Vacation  Unlock2.6%3.6%
 Vacant Other0.2%  Unlock4.1%
 space2
 Owner-Occupied Housing Value
 Rancho Santa Margarita, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Less Than $20,000  Unlock1.4%2.6%
 $20,000 to $39,9990.1%  Unlock2.4%
 $40,000 to $59,999  Unlock0.0%2.8%
 $60,000 to $79,9990.1%  Unlock3.9%
 $80,000 to $99,999  Unlock0.2%4.5%
 $100,000 to $149,9990.5%  Unlock11.3%
 $150,000 to $199,999  Unlock0.7%13.0%
 $200,000 to $299,9991.3%  Unlock20.1%
 $300,000 to $399,999  Unlock2.5%13.6%
 $400,000 to $499,99911.5%  Unlock8.3%
 $500,000 to $749,999  Unlock12.4%9.7%
 $750,000 to $999,99932.6%  Unlock3.9%
 $1,000,000 to $1,499,999  Unlock28.0%2.2%
 $1,500,000 to $1,999,9990.7%  Unlock0.8%
 $2,000,000 and over  Unlock4.5%1.1%
 space3
 Housing Units By Year Built
 Rancho Santa Margarita, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 2015 and Newer0.0%  Unlock0.2%
 2010 to 2014  Unlock8.0%13.6%
 2000 to 20095.6%  Unlock13.6%
 1990 to 1999  Unlock9.9%13.6%
 1980 to 198933.8%  Unlock13.2%
 1970 to 1979  Unlock18.3%14.8%
 1960 to 196955.0%  Unlock13.6%
 1950 to 1959  Unlock12.5%10.0%
 1940 to 19490.1%  Unlock4.7%
 1939 or Earlier  Unlock18.2%12.2%
Transportation
Reviews for Rancho Santa Margarita    13 Reviews
Adele · Fort Collins, CO
RSM - Beautiful, quiet town.
Over 1 years ago

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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Rosemary · Trabuco Canyon, CA
Lovely
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

   |    Reply
Julia · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Best little city in the O.C.
Over 10 years ago

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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Reviews for Santa Cruz    44 Reviews
NC · Boise City, ID
Some love it, others not so much
Over 5 years ago

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

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Kimberly · Santa Cruz, CA
Small Town, Big City
Over 5 years ago

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

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Holly · Live Oak, CA
Santa Cruz is my Heart Home in so many ways
Over 6 years ago

I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More

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Learn More About Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Overview
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Learn More About Santa Cruz, California
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