Rancho Santa Fe is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California, United States, within the San Diego metropolitan area. The population was 3,156 at the 2020 census. The CDP is primarily residential with a few shopping blocks, a middle and elementary school, and several restaurants. Rancho Santa Fe borders the Fairbanks Ranch gated community to the southeast, Solana Beach to the southwest, and Encinitas to the west.