If you live in Shadowridge near Palomar you will never see the open spaces north of the 78, nor the city of Vista downtown area. You simply wont want to go there. Shadowridge is indeed a tract home community, one of the first in North County, so yards are a bit bigger, but homes are older. The city is broke and uninvolved, wheras the city of San Marcos has a very vibrant dynamic going for it, is active and has a budget surplus. This translates into better city services like fire and police, more parks, more community activities and on and on. I lived in each city two years and there is no comparison.
I have said some good things about Vista, but I have to tell you that I would rate it the worst city in North County, even behind Oceanside. There’s not much room for new development, so it is unlikely to get better. Before you buy in Vista, look at areas in San Marcos like Discovery Hills (Close to the 78, but you can also catch Palomar Airport via San Marcos Blvd). Go to the city building in San Marcos and ask about all the development and plans for the city and you will be amazed.
