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Santa Margarita, CA
Census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, California.
Population
1,149
Land area
0.5sq mi
People per sq mi
2,221
ZIP codes
0
Santa Margarita and its ZIP codes
Santa Margarita at a glance
- Santa Margarita is about 8.8 times as dense as California as a whole.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $684,000 (7% below California).
Local data for Santa Margarita, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Santa Margarita, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Poverty rate
3.0%
Median home value
$684,000
Homeownership
53.2%
Bachelor's or higher
34.4%
Median age
37.5
Average commute
21.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Portuguese Americans (462), Irish Americans (126), German Americans (39).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for San Luis Obispo County. PPP loans are for Santa Margarita.
Unemployment rate
4.7%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$64,561
121,634 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$77,564
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2.07B
FY 2026, $7,342 per person
How people get to work
Santa Margarita, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.6%
- Carpooled0.0%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.0%
- Bicycle2.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home22.3%
Average one-way commute: 21.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Santa Margarita, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
118
Countywide, mostly high wind
Flood insurance policies
1,183
1.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
78° / 44°F
22.4 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Santa Margarita, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
26.9%
U.S. 33.3% -6.4 pts
Diabetes
9.1%
U.S. 12.1% -3.0 pts
Smoking
10.8%
U.S. 12.8% -2.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.0%
U.S. 11.1% -5.1 pts
Cities near Santa Margarita
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Garden FarmsCensus-designated place | 2 mi | 1.1 |
| California Polytechnic State UniversityCensus-designated place | 6.5 mi | 1.5 |
| AtascaderoCity | 7.9 mi | 26.1 |
| San Luis ObispoCity | 8.4 mi | 13.6 |
| CrestonCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 0.6 |
| EdnaCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 1.2 |
| Los RanchosCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 2.9 |
| TempletonCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 7.9 |
| Los OsosCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 12.8 |
| Morro BayCity | 14 mi | 5.3 |
| Avila BeachCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 6.1 |
| CayucosCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 3.1 |
| Pismo BeachCity | 16 mi | 3.5 |
| El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles)City | 17 mi | 19.9 |
| Arroyo GrandeCity | 18 mi | 5.9 |
| Grover BeachCity | 19 mi | 2.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Santa Margarita, CA in?
- Santa Margarita is in San Luis Obispo County, California.
- What is the population of Santa Margarita, CA?
- About 1,149 people live in Santa Margarita, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Santa Margarita?
- Nearby places include Garden Farms (2 mi), California Polytechnic State University (6.5 mi), Atascadero (7.9 mi), San Luis Obispo (8.4 mi), Creston (10 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023