Rancho Santa Margarita, California Income Statistics
Rancho Santa Margarita Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A+
Rancho Santa Margarita Top grade
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rancho Santa Margarita | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $144,943 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $94,499 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 28.9% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 35.1% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rancho Santa Margarita is about 46% higher than in California. Income has been growing slower in Rancho Santa Margarita (5.0%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 29% of adults in Rancho Santa Margarita earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Rancho Santa Margarita, California grew by 53.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $144,943 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rancho Santa Margarita
| Metric | Rancho Santa Margarita | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.513 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $106,552 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $83,588 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.6% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Rancho Santa Margarita, it is 0.513, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $803,740 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rancho Santa Margarita, California has narrowed from about 36% to 22% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,619 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rancho Santa Margarita | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 23.8% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 840 people are unemployed in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
The average commute time in Rancho Santa Margarita is 25 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rancho Santa Margarita, California has fallen from 6.2% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.2% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.1% in 2021.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Rancho Santa Margarita, CA compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 40,046 | $144,943 #1/3 | 5.0%/yr #1/3 | 3.6% #1/3 | 0.513 #1/3 |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 95,648 | $138,601 | 3.5%/yr | 5.0% | 0.527 |
| Lake Forest, CA | 77,757 | $137,212 | 4.8%/yr | 4.5% | 0.537 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rancho Santa Margarita, California has an overall wealth index grade of A+, making it far better than California, and far better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
How Rich Is Rancho Santa Margarita, California?
Rancho Santa Margarita has a wealth index grade of A+. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A+ grade means it is one of the most prosperous areas in the country. The median household income is $144,943, about 46% higher than the California average of $99,161.
Are incomes growing in Rancho Santa Margarita, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rancho Santa Margarita, California rose 53%, from $94,668 to $144,943. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +53% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Rancho Santa Margarita in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rancho Santa Margarita, California was $140,186, about the same as in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Rancho Santa Margarita in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rancho Santa Margarita, California was $118,968. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $144,943.
How many people earn six figures in Rancho Santa Margarita, California?
Yes. 29% of adults in Rancho Santa Margarita, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 3), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 35% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
Is it hard to find a job in Rancho Santa Margarita, California?
Unemployment in Rancho Santa Margarita, California is only 3.6%, well below the California rate of 6.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rancho Santa Margarita, California?
The Gini coefficient in Rancho Santa Margarita is 0.513. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Rancho Santa Margarita, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rancho Santa Margarita, California has narrowed from about 36% to 22% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,619 since 2009.
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