Crime per Capita in Rancho Santa Margarita
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
C-
Overall Crime Grade™
C- |
|
D |
|
Other Crime Grade |
A |
$17.1 million
Cost of Crime™ for Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
In 2025, crime will cost $971 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Rancho Santa Margarita in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
Is Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Safe?
The C- grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US city. Rancho Santa Margarita ranks in the 34th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 34% of cities but less safe than 66%. This analysis applies only to Rancho Santa Margarita's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.
The crime rate in Rancho Santa Margarita is 29.92 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Rancho Santa Margarita Residents generally consider the northwest part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Rancho Santa Margarita varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 18 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 53 in the northwest.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southwest parts of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA see the most incidents - about 354 per year. In contrast, the southeast part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 25 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
The total projected cost of crime in Rancho Santa Margarita for 2025 is $17,140,072. This translates to approximately $349 per resident and $971 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.6% of the median household income in Rancho Santa Margarita. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 60.3%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 28.7%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.0%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Rancho Santa Margarita Compared to Other Cities?
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA: | $349 |
|---|---|
| Lodi, CA: | $1387 |
| Rescue, CA: | $213 |
| California: | $491 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Rancho Santa Margarita is $349 per year, which is $115 less than the national average and $142 less than California's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Rancho Santa Margarita:
- In Lodi, CA, crime costs $1,387 per person, which is $1,038 more than in Rancho Santa Margarita.
- In Rescue, CA, crime costs $213 per person, which is $136 less than in Rancho Santa Margarita
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Rancho Santa Margarita for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Rancho Santa Margarita |
Cost per Rancho Santa Margarita Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$1.45 million |
$30 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$1.49 million |
$30 |
Robbery |
$1.22 million |
$25 |
Assault |
$3.43 million |
$70 |
Kidnapping |
$304,416 |
$6 |
Vehicle Theft |
$1.49 million |
$30 |
Burglary |
$2.52 million |
$51 |
Theft |
$3.82 million |
$78 |
Arson |
$253,043 |
$5 |
Vandalism |
$587,926 |
$12 |
Animal Cruelty |
$5,927 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$324,325 |
$7 |
Identity Theft |
$243,885 |
$5 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$17,140,072 |
$349 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Rancho Santa Margarita totals $18,369,973 ($374 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $35,510,045 ($723 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Crime Maps
When interpreting the Rancho Santa Margarita crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the central part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Rancho Santa Margarita has 3, have the same problem. Of Rancho Santa Margarita’s 49,096 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA at ISP Reports.Rancho Santa Margarita Crime Breakdown
The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Rancho Santa Margarita residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
2.434 |
Robbery |
0.7918 |
Rape |
0.4996 |
Murder |
0.0157 |
Total Violent Crime |
3.741 (C-) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
15.01 |
Vehicle Theft |
1.957 |
Burglary |
5.666 |
Arson |
0.2134 |
Total Property Crime |
22.85 (D) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.1023 |
Drug Crimes |
0.8931 |
Vandalism |
1.676 |
Identity Theft |
0.6418 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0163 |
Total "Other" Rate |
3.330 (A) |
Individual Rancho Santa Margarita Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities
Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Rancho Santa Margarita is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Rancho Santa Margarita.
Nearby City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
B | C | C | |
B | B- | C | |
D | D | D- | |
D | D | F | |
D+ | C | D- | |
C | D+ | D+ | |
C- | D+ | D | |
C+ | C | D+ | |
F | D- | F | |
D | D- | D- |
Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations
Rancho Santa Margarita is similar versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.
Similar City | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
C | A- | A- | |
C+ | C | C | |
D+ | B- | B- | |
C- | B- | B- | |
C | A- | A- | |
D | D | D | |
C- | D+ | D+ | |
D | D | D | |
B+ | A+ | A+ | |
A | A+ | A+ |
Considering only the crime rate, Rancho Santa Margarita is as safe as the California state average and as safe as the national average.
Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA average SchoolGrade of A, with 60% actual proficiency versus 46% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Rancho Santa Margarita schools on SchoolGrade
About the Data
CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.
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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.