Anaheim vs Rancho Santa Margarita
Anaheim, California versus Rancho Santa Margarita, California: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Rancho Santa Margarita edges out Anaheim on overall objective livability (49 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Anaheim | Rancho Santa Margarita |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $89k | $150k |
| Cost of Living | $83k | $83k |
| Home Value | $714k | $861k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $3k | $3k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.69% | 0.75% |
| Income Tax | 13.30% | 13.30% |
| Sales Tax | 8.85% | 8.85% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 21.74% | 20.50% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | 3.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 57°F | 57°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 76°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5 in | 15.3 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 277 days | 256 days |
| Summer Humidity | 55°F | 60°F |
| Comfortable Days | 246 days | 211 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 80.1 | 61.2 |
| Air Quality | 44 AQI | 53 AQI |
| School Quality | 68.5 | 50.4 |
| Violent Crime | 1331/100k | 181/100k |
| Property Crime | 2778/100k | 471/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 347,111 | 47,702 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 40.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.69 | 0.50 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 23.6% | 59.4% |
| Black (%) | 2.4% | 1.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 53.3% | 20.4% |
| Asian (%) | 17.4% | 12.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.3% | 6.3% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 28 min | 27 min |
| Walkability | 13.3/20 | 11.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 11 mi | 16 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.4% | 96.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 18.47 | 48.01 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Anaheim or Rancho Santa Margarita more affordable?
- Rancho Santa Margarita has the lower cost of living: its index is $83k, compared with Anaheim's $83k and Rancho Santa Margarita's $83k. Median rent is $2k in Anaheim versus $2k in Rancho Santa Margarita.
- Is Anaheim or Rancho Santa Margarita safer?
- Rancho Santa Margarita has the lower violent crime rate. Anaheim reports 1331/100k and Rancho Santa Margarita reports 181/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Anaheim or Rancho Santa Margarita?
- The median home value is $714k in Anaheim and $861k in Rancho Santa Margarita, so homes are more affordable in Anaheim.