Santa Margarita
$815,731
Average Value
Local restaurants with plenty of outdoor seating on El Camino Real
Much of the neighborhood's residential grid of flat, narrow streets is lined with three-bedroom bungalows and ranch-style homes that were built between 1950 and 2000. Shaded by mature willow, cypress and oak trees, most of these homes feature vinyl siding and shingle roofs, little ornamentation and prominent two-car garages. Throughout the main grid, sidewalks are scarce, gravel lanes separate small backyards, and most lots are 7,500 square feet; at the edges of the community, though, some 1-acre lots have been outfitted for horses and other livestock. Home prices range from $500,000 to $900,000, depending on lot size. On the east side of town, the Santa Margarita Mobile Home Park has two-bedroom manufactured homes, including units from the 1970s and recently built versions from 2023. Often featuring central air conditioning and in-unit laundry, these manufactured homes tend to sell for between $50,000 and $200,000.Wild West-themed playgrounds at Santa Margarita Community Park
The neighborhood's Santa Margarita Community Park has a large Wild West-themed playground, swing sets and shaded picnic areas often used for family and community gatherings. Area hiking trails include the dirt-packed East Cuesta Ridge Trail, which begins about 5 miles south off the 101; this dirt-packed trail winds through the dry brush of the Santa Lucia Mountains, climbing to the peak of Mount Lowe for panoramic views of San Luis Obispo. About 9 miles away, Santa Margarita Lake is a popular destination for kayaking, camping and fishing; surrounded by natural rock formations and pine forests, the lake is teeming with herons, deer, catfish and other wildlife.Local restaurants with plenty of outdoor seating on El Camino Real
Local businesses like the Barn Antique Store and Santa Margarita Feed & Farm Supply are set in Old West-style storefronts along El Camino Real, the town's main roadway. J’s Country Kitchen serves classic comfort food, steak and homemade pie on its shaded, fairy-lit patio, and the family-owned Porch Café offers bar fare and draft beer. Ancient Peaks Winery has a tasting room and full-service café serving burgers and other sandwiches. For chain restaurants and broader retail options, locals can travel to neighboring towns like San Luis Obispo and Atascadero; the latter has grocery stores like Food 4 Less and Vons.Local kids attend Santa Margarita Elementary
Santa Margarita Elementary, rated B-plus by Niche, is located within the neighborhood for families who want to walk their kids to school. “Santa Margarita Elementary has a tight-knit feel,” says Maggie Miles, owner of The Friendship Garden Preschool in the neighboring community of Garden Farms. “The teachers are wonderful; they have great clubs and PTA.” The school’s Chess Club is very active, and the PTA organizes an annual adult-only Mustang Ball fundraiser with dinner, as well as silent and live auctions. Atascadero Middle and Atascadero High both score a B-plus and are located about 10 miles north.Accessing U.S. 101 a mile west
El Camino Real is the main roadway in town, bisecting the community and merging with U.S. Route 101 about a mile west; San Luis Obispo is about 10 miles south on the 101, while Bakersfield is 130 miles east on California Route 58. The Regional Transit Authority’s Route 9 bus stops in Santa Margarita, taking passengers south to San Luis Obispo and 23 miles north to Paso Robles. While residents must drive to neighboring towns for certain necessities, getting anywhere within Santa Margarita on foot or bike is simple since the community is so compact.Train tracks run parallel to El Camino Real, bringing passing trains throughout the day, though the neighborhood has no terminal. The nearest hospital is Adventist Health Sierra Vista, about 11 miles away. Aside from Santa Margarita Ranch Airport, a private one-track terminal just north of the neighborhood, nearby airports include San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, 15 miles away, and Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 142 miles away.
Private and public events on the Santa Margarita Ranch
The Santa Margarita Ranch, a large cattle farm and event venue set just north of Santa Margarita, hosts the annual Best of the West Antique Equipment Show in May with vintage airplane, car, train and tractor displays. In December, the venue is decked in lights and holiday decorations for the annual "Christmas at the Ranch" celebration; attendees board historic steam trains for a 30-minute ride around the grounds before arriving at Santa’s Barn, where kids can visit with the man himself. The town also has a small, community organized Fourth of July Parade that features floats decorated by local businesses, and area kids riding by on red, white and blue bicycles and tricycles.
Written By
Andi Sink
Photography Contributed By
Mark Huddleston
Video By
Jahlil Harris
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Michelle Cozine
Michelle Cozine
Realty Pros - A Professional Real Estate Company
(805) 617-1475
39 Total Sales
1 in Santa Margarita
$9,500 Price
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James Outland
James Outland
Responds QuicklyOutland and Associates Real Estate
(805) 505-7682
54 Total Sales
1 in Santa Margarita
$308,000 Price
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Jacob Rodrigues
Jacob Rodrigues
Responds QuicklyGUIDE Real Estate
(805) 591-8107
76 Total Sales
1 in Santa Margarita
$665,000 Price
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Cory Mason
Cory Mason
Responds QuicklyHome Again
(805) 519-7564
24 Total Sales
1 in Santa Margarita
$842,000 Price
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Lindsey Harn
Lindsey Harn
Christie's International Real Estate Sereno
(805) 706-8803
751 Total Sales
7 in Santa Margarita
$715K - $926K Price Range
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Rachel Metzger
Rachel Metzger
Compass
(805) 250-4428
36 Total Sales
5 in Santa Margarita
$595K - $915K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- K to 5th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Santa Margarita Community Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Santa Margarita | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 2 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
208
Median Year Built
1981
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,426
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,000
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,405
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
701
Median Age
43
Population Density
3 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$52,884
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$74,148
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.3%
College Graduates
38.7%
Advanced Degrees
6.3%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
54.4%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
31''
Average Winter Low Temperature
38°F
Average Summer High Temperature
76°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
62
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
55
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Garden Farms
Close-knit residential community set between Santa Margarita and Atascadero
Cuesta Park
Proximity to Downtown SLO and Cal Poly in the foothills of the Cuesta Ridge
Alta Vista
Suburban neighborhood tucked between the Cal Poly Campus and Downtown SLO
Bishops Knoll
A well-established SLO suburb within biking distance of downtown and Cal Poly
Foothill
A popular SLO neighborhood at the base of Cerro San Luis just north of downtown
Highland
Suburban living in SLO with proximity to downtown, Cal Poly and Bishop Peak
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