The University of Northern BC's campus on Cranbrook Hill's ridge anchors a residential corridor of executive family homes — University Heights, the Foothills neighbourhood and the College Heights area collectively represent Prince George's professional-class residential spine. UNBC proximity, the CN Centre arena, and the city's best school catchments (Duchess Park, Kelly Road secondary) make this quadrant the first choice for families relocating for the oil-and-gas, forestry or healthcare sectors. Properties here are well-maintained, architecturally considered and priced to reflect Northern BC's extraordinary value proposition.
University Heights
$850K – $1.5M
UNBC neighbourhood prestige — executive family homes adjacent to the University of Northern BC's campus, in the quadrant that professional relocations to Prince George consistently choose first.
Foothills Estates
$800K – $1.5M
Executive family neighbourhood with Cranbrook Hill adjacency — Foothills combines the professional-community character of University Heights with slightly more seclusion and access to Cranbrook Hill's trail network.
College Heights
$800K – $1.3M
Established professional community on College Heights — the area's entry-level executive tier, with consistent neighbourhood quality, good school access and the University corridor's community character at a more accessible price point.
Peden Hill
$800K – $1.4M
Elevated city views from Peden Hill — properties here carry a view premium for the elevated outlook over Prince George's river valley below, while remaining within the University Heights corridor's school and amenity catchment.
University Heights & Foothills — Frequently Asked Questions
Why do professional relocations to Prince George consistently land in University Heights and Foothills?
University Heights and the Foothills neighbourhood sit at the intersection of Prince George's two most important professional magnets: the University of Northern BC's campus on Cranbrook Hill's ridge, and the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC), which is the regional referral hospital for the entire northern two-thirds of BC. Physicians, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals recruited to UHNBC choose this quadrant first because it is the city's highest-functioning residential area for professional families — the best school catchments, CN Centre arena access, proximity to both institutions and a community of neighbours who share similar professional backgrounds and family priorities.
What is the University of Northern BC and how does it affect the luxury property market?
UNBC opened in 1994 as BC's first new research university in decades and has fundamentally changed Prince George's professional class. The university's campus on Cranbrook Hill's ridge anchors a residential corridor of executive family homes in University Heights, Foothills and College Heights that simply would not exist at the same quality level without UNBC's presence. Faculty positions, research grants and the steady influx of graduate students turned into permanent residents have created sustained demand for quality housing in the university neighbourhood, and UNBC's presence signals to relocating professionals that Prince George has intellectual and cultural infrastructure commensurate with their own education.
What is the price range for executive homes in University Heights and Foothills?
Executive family homes in University Heights, Foothills and College Heights begin around $800,000 for well-maintained four-bedroom homes with garages, finished basements and contemporary finishes, and reach $1,500,000 or more for custom-built executive homes with premium finishes, larger lots and city or valley views. Peden Hill properties, elevated above the Foothills with city views, command premiums within this range. Prince George's executive home market represents exceptional value relative to southern BC: the same quality of home that costs $2,500,000 in Kelowna or $4,000,000 in Calgary's established communities costs $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 in Prince George.
What schools serve the University Heights and Foothills neighbourhoods?
The University Heights and Foothills area feeds into Duchess Park Secondary and Kelly Road Secondary — both consistently regarded as Prince George's strongest academic secondary schools. The elementary and middle school feeders for this quadrant have above-average academic outcomes relative to Prince George averages, which is a direct result of the high concentration of professional and university-educated families in the neighbourhood. For families relocating from larger centres with competitive school concerns, the Duchess Park and Kelly Road catchments provide the strongest academic environment available in Northern BC.
What recreational and amenity access do University Heights and Foothills residents enjoy?
University Heights and Foothills residents are positioned between two of Prince George's most significant recreation assets. Cranbrook Hill and the Forests for the World trail system are immediately adjacent to the neighbourhood's upper reaches — mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing begin within minutes. CN Centre, Prince George's arena and major-event venue, is a short drive south. The Civic Centre's indoor swimming pool and fitness facilities are nearby. And the UNBC campus has running trails, a sports facility and a library available to Prince George residents. This concentration of recreation and amenity access within a compact geographic quadrant is one of the neighbourhood's strongest lifestyle selling points.