Rancho Santa Margarita is a city in Orange County, California. One of Orange County's youngest cities, Rancho Santa Margarita is a master planned community set upon rolling hills. Most neighborhoods in Rancho Santa Margarita are within various homeowners associations.

Rancho Santa Margarita sits at the foot of the impressive towering Saddleback Mountains, and is surrounded by the highly acclaimed Coto De Caza and Dove Canyon. These communities feature some of the area’s finest golf courses and gorgeous estate homes with a rural country feel. They are premier gated communities, home to many of this nation’s top executives. Rancho Santa Margarita proper is a highly livable community. In addition to newer family homes, it offers an abundant supply of entry level homes and condominiums. Real estate in Rancho Santa Margarita is crisp and clean. One drive through this beautifully landscaped community makes you realize why so many young families flock to it.

Rancho Santa Margarita was planned to be an "Urban Village," offering the BEST of two worlds: all of the elements and advantages of a small city plus the quality of life of a small village. In 1996 the Celebrating the Vision Committee developed Rancho Santa Margarita's Vision Statement: "A Small City with the Soul of a Small Village." 

Housing

Each subdivision is part of a homeowners association with strict rules about home maintenance, and each member pays a fee to maintain parks and wide roads with planted medians.

Because Rancho Santa Margarita is further inland than ultra-desirable oceanside properties like Laguna Beach, homes are cheaper -- but the water is still only about half an hour away.


Demographics

Population in July 2009: 49,458. Rancho Santa Margarita covers 12.3 square miles. It sits at an Elevation of 950 feet above sea level. Zip codes: 92688.

Weather

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's.

The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 83.40 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 47.10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 19 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Rancho Santa Margarita is 14.03 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is February with an average rainfall of 3.38 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com