Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Demographics

A map of Rancho Santa Margarita's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	27,497	27,930	58.5%	58.2%
Hispanic	9,536	10,297	20.3%	21.5%
Asian	5,839	5,711	12.4%	11.9%
Multiracial	3,062	2,860	6.5%	6.0%
Black	704	761	1.5%	1.6%
Native American/Other	352	390	0.7%	0.8%

Rancho Santa Margarita, California has an estimated population of 46,990, a slight decrease from the 47,949 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 58.5% White, 20.3% Hispanic, 12.4% Asian, 6.5% Multiracial, 1.5% Black, and 0.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Rancho Santa Margarita, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Rancho Santa Margarita is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Rancho Santa Margarita, that probability was 59.7% in 2020 and 59.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Rancho Santa Margarita is ranked the 201st most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Rancho Santa Margarita was ranked the 199th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Rancho Santa Margarita's White Population

27,497 residents of Rancho Santa Margarita, or 58.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Rancho Santa Margarita is significantly higher than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Rancho Santa Margarita ranks 801st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rancho Santa Margarita's White population has declined by an estimated 1.6%. White residents' share of Rancho Santa Margarita's population has remained roughly unchanged at 58.5%.

Rancho Santa Margarita is more White than neighboring Las Flores CDP (Orange County) (56.4% White), and Lake Forest (44.1% White). Rancho Santa Margarita is less White than neighboring Coto de Caza (70% White), Trabuco Canyon (69% White), and Mission Viejo (59.1% White).

Rancho Santa Margarita's Black Population

704 residents of Rancho Santa Margarita, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Rancho Santa Margarita is slightly lower than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Rancho Santa Margarita ranks 529th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rancho Santa Margarita's Black population has declined by an estimated 7.5%. Black residents' share of Rancho Santa Margarita's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Rancho Santa Margarita is more Black than neighboring Coto de Caza (1.2% Black), Trabuco Canyon (1.4% Black), Las Flores CDP (Orange County) (1.2% Black), and Mission Viejo (1% Black). Rancho Santa Margarita is less Black than neighboring Lake Forest (2.4% Black).

Rancho Santa Margarita's Asian Population

5,839 residents of Rancho Santa Margarita, or 12.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Rancho Santa Margarita is slightly lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Rancho Santa Margarita ranks 254th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rancho Santa Margarita's Asian population has grown by an estimated 2.2%. Asian residents' share of Rancho Santa Margarita's population has increased from 11.9% to 12.4%.

Rancho Santa Margarita is more Asian than neighboring Coto de Caza (8.7% Asian), and Trabuco Canyon (7.7% Asian). Rancho Santa Margarita is less Asian than neighboring Las Flores CDP (Orange County) (14.2% Asian), Mission Viejo (14.2% Asian), and Lake Forest (19.7% Asian).

Rancho Santa Margarita's Hispanic Population

9,536 residents of Rancho Santa Margarita, or 20.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Rancho Santa Margarita is significantly lower than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Rancho Santa Margarita ranks 829th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rancho Santa Margarita's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 7.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Rancho Santa Margarita's population has decreased from 21.5% to 20.3%.

Rancho Santa Margarita is more Hispanic than neighboring Coto de Caza (14% Hispanic), Trabuco Canyon (14.2% Hispanic), and Mission Viejo (20% Hispanic). Rancho Santa Margarita is less Hispanic than neighboring Las Flores CDP (Orange County) (23.3% Hispanic), and Lake Forest (27% Hispanic).

Rancho Santa Margarita's Native American/Other Population

352 residents of Rancho Santa Margarita, or 0.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Rancho Santa Margarita is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Rancho Santa Margarita ranks 1204th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rancho Santa Margarita's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 9.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Rancho Santa Margarita's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Rancho Santa Margarita is more Native American/Other than neighboring Las Flores CDP (Orange County) (0.3% Native American/Other), and Mission Viejo (0.3% Native American/Other). Rancho Santa Margarita is less Native American/Other than neighboring Coto de Caza (1.4% Native American/Other), Trabuco Canyon (2% Native American/Other), and Lake Forest (1.3% Native American/Other).

Rancho Santa Margarita's Multiracial Population

3,062 residents of Rancho Santa Margarita, or 6.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Rancho Santa Margarita is slightly higher than in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Rancho Santa Margarita ranks 481st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Rancho Santa Margarita's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 7.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Rancho Santa Margarita's population has increased from 6.0% to 6.5%.

Rancho Santa Margarita is more Multiracial than neighboring Coto de Caza (4.7% Multiracial), Trabuco Canyon (5.8% Multiracial), Las Flores CDP (Orange County) (4.7% Multiracial), Mission Viejo (5.4% Multiracial), and Lake Forest (5.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.