Welcome to the first of our new series, Battle of the Burbs!
Buyers are always asking us, “What neighborhoods should we live in? Pacific Highlands Ranch? Torrey Highlands? 4S Ranch? Del Sur?” So, we thought we’d do a few episodes pitting these neighborhoods head-to-head so you can get your questions answered and ultimately decide which is the right choice for your family!
Today we’re going to be discussing Torrey Highlands vs Pacific Highlands Ranch. We’re going to compare amenities, park, restaurants, schools…everything each neighborhood has to offer.
Restaurants in Torrey Highlands and Pacific Highlands Ranch
Both neighborhoods have some pretty good restaurants. Pacific Highlands Ranch has a good breakfast spot, lunch spots, and dinner spots. Places like Pacific Social, Breakfast Republic, Wokou Ramen, Death by Tequila, and Flora Bar & Kitchen.
In Torrey Highlands, we have some great pizza options like Fresco, which is my favorite pizza place Off the 56. The Merge 56 shopping center is also coming to Torrey Highlands and that should give us some new restaurants, breweries, and coffee shop options.
Winner: Pacific Highlands Ranch
Parks in Torrey Highlands and Pacific Highlands Ranch
Next up, we’re talking parks!
Pacific Highlands Ranch is a little bit bigger, so they tend to have a few more amenities than Torrey Highlands. They have the beautiful Pacific Highlands Ranch community park and rec center, plus some smaller neighborhood parks. They also have an indoor rec center and a pump track.
Torrey Highlands does not have a rec center, but we do have Torrey Meadows Park. That’s the largest park in Torrey Highlands and it’s only about two years old. It has a beautiful playground. We have other smaller parks as well, but we don’t have any community pools or rec centers in Torrey Highlands.
Winner: Pacific Highlands Ranch
Schools in Torrey Highlands and Pacific Highlands Ranch
The schools in Torrey Highlands and Pacific Highlands Ranch are both excellent. They are actually two different school districts though, so we really have a face-off between San Dieguito and Poway Unified School Districts. However, based on Great Schools ratings, those are both some of the best school districts in all of San Diego.
Talking specific schools, Pacific Highlands Ranch has the 10-rated Canyon Crest Academy and Pacific Trails Middle School. In Torrey Highlands, you have Westview High School, Willow Grove Elementary, and Park Village Elementary. Both neighborhoods have highly rated schools, 9s and 10s all over.
Winner: Draw
Homes in Torrey Highlands and Pacific Highlands Ranch
All right, now we’re talking about the homes in these two neighborhoods!
The median home price in Pacific Highlands Ranch is $1.8 Million! Torrey Highlands is a bit more affordable - the median home price over there is around $1.4 Million.
Pacific Highlands Ranch might have a few more amenities than Torrey Highlands, however you’re definitely paying for it. Torrey Highlands is also just east of Pacific Highlands Ranch, so you’re still super close to the beach and the 56 freeway. The HOA fees in Torrey Highlands tend to be a bit less than Pacific Highlands Ranch, mainly because they don’t have as many community amenities.
As far as Mello-Roos fees goes, both of them have Mello-Roos. However, most of the Mello-Roos fees in Torrey Highlands are going to expire within the next ten years whereas Pacific Highlands Ranch is newer, so you still have a lot of time left on those fees.
Winner: Torrey Highlands
Hiking and Mountain Biking Trails in Torrey Highlands and Pacific Highlands Ranch
Last on our list in this Battle of the Burbs are hiking and mountain biking trails.
The trails in Torrey Highlands are some of the best in the entire city. Torrey Highlands is right on the Rancho Peñasquitos Canyon which, as we’ve covered on previous episodes, is absolutely amazing. Pacific Highlands Ranch does have access to this canyon, however Torrey Highlands has the trailhead right there!
Winner: Torrey Highlands
So, for those of you keeping score at home, this Battle of the Burbs is all tied up! However, we’re going to give this one to Torrey Highlands because this is the neighborhood where we personally live so we can attest to how awesome both the neighborhood and the neighbors are.
Either way, you really can’t go wrong when it comes to Pacific Highlands Ranch and Torrey Highlands. Both great places to live in San Diego. If you’re looking to move to either of these communities or anywhere else in San Diego County, we’d love to help!
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