When it comes to buying a new home, two of the biggest names in homebuilding are Shea Homes and Toll Brothers. Both companies have been building homes across the U.S. for decades and offer luxury homes in master-planned communities.
But there are some key differences between Shea Homes and Toll Brothers that homebuyers should understand before making a decision.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare Shea Homes and Toll Brothers in terms of company history and reach, home types and sizes, community amenities, home personalization options, quality and customer service, and home prices.
We’ll also look at the pros and cons of Shea Homes and Toll Brothers to help you determine which builder may be a better fit for your needs.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Aspects | Shea Homes | Toll Brothers |
| Year Founded | 1968 | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Walnut, CA | Horsham, PA |
| States | CA, AZ, NV, CO, WA, NC, SC, FL, TX | Over 20 states nationwide |
| Home Types | Single-family homes, townhomes, condos | Single-family homes, townhomes, condos, luxury high-rises |
| Home Sizes | 1,200 – 5,000+ sq ft | 1,500 – 9,000+ sq ft |
| Communities | Master-planned, suburban | Master-planned, suburban, urban |
| Amenities | Parks, trails, community centers | Golf courses, country clubs, equestrian facilities |
| Personalization | Shea3D Design Studio, Flexspace options | Design Studio, Designer Collections |
| Quality & Service | Strong reputation, more hands-on | Mixed reviews, less customization |
Key Differences Between Shea Homes And Toll Brothers
Now let’s take a deeper look at how Shea Homes and Toll Brothers compare across these key factors.
- Company History and Reach
Both Shea Homes and Toll Brothers have been building homes for over 50 years and have established themselves as leading national homebuilders.
Shea Homes was founded in 1968 in Southern California by the Shea and Baker families. Still family-owned today, the company has built over 100,000 homes across Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington.
Toll Brothers was founded in 1967 and is now a publicly traded company. Based in Pennsylvania, Toll Brothers has built over 80,000 homes in over 20 states nationwide including luxury markets like New York, New Jersey, and California.
While both companies build across the U.S., Shea Homes has a larger footprint on the West Coast while Toll Brothers has more communities on the East Coast.
- Home Types and Sizes
Shea Homes and Toll Brothers build a variety of home types ranging from single-family homes to townhomes and condominiums in attached living communities.
Shea Homes offers single-family detached homes ranging in size from approximately 1,200 to over 5,000 square feet. They focus on two-story floor plans with 3-6 bedrooms. Townhomes and condos are smaller in the 1,200-2,000 sq ft range.
Toll Brothers single-family homes range from 1,500 to 9,000+ square feet with loft floor plans and options for separate in-law suites.
Their townhomes and condos are also spacious from 1,500-3,000+ sq ft. For urban high-rise living, Toll Brothers high-rises have luxury condos up to 6,000 sq ft.
So in terms of home sizes, Toll Brothers offers larger homes on average while Shea has more modestly sized options for first-time homebuyers.
- Community Amenities
Shea Homes and Toll Brothers both develop master-planned communities with amenities and lifestyle features.
Shea Homes communities feature parks, trails, outdoor recreation, and community centers. Their Trilogy branded communities cater to active adults 55+ with resort-style amenities like pools, fitness centers, and social clubs.
Toll Brothers is known for luxury communities built around golf courses, country clubs, and equestrian facilities. Their Active Adult communities have upscale amenities tailored to buyers 50+ like tennis courts, restaurants, and spas.
Toll Brothers does cater more to the luxury market while Shea offers more family-friendly community features. But both provide amenities to match their target homebuyer lifestyles.
Also Read: Comparison of Toll Brothers And Tri Pointe Homes.
- Home Personalization
A major part of the homebuying process with Shea and Toll is personalizing your new home to fit your needs and taste.
Shea Homes has the Shea3D Design Studio that allows homebuyers to customize their home’s floor plan and select structural options like adding a wing or casita, converting space to a home office or gym, and reconfiguring rooms. They also have Flexspace options on many new plans to use certain spaces as multi-purpose areas.
Toll Brothers has their state-of-the-art Design Studio where you can choose everything from cabinets to carpets, make structural changes to floor plans, and select smart home upgrades.
They also have Designer Collections with curated interior design packages by famous names like Bobby Berk.
Shea offers more flexibility in structural customization while Toll has more interior design elements to personalize your home.
- Quality and Customer Service
Understanding the build quality, materials, and customer service reputation of Shea vs. Toll is important for homebuyers as well.
Shea Homes has a longstanding reputation as a builder of quality homes and communities on the West Coast. Their customer service is highly-rated and they take a hands-on approach to resolving issues during and after building. Their homes showcase thoughtful details and design.
Toll Brothers gets mixed reviews when it comes to build quality and customer service. They focus more on luxury finishes but some buyers report issues with getting problems addressed during and after construction. Their high-volume approach also means less customization compared to other builders.
Potential homebuyers say Shea Homes provides a more personalized building experience with better customer service overall.
- Home Prices
As two national builders, Shea and Toll offer homes at varying price points:
Shea Homes has entry-level homes starting in the high $100,000s to low $200,000s. Their mid-range family homes are priced from the $300s to $600s. Luxury estate properties can be over $1 million.
Toll Brothers communities start at luxury price points in the $400,000s on up above $1 million. Their ultra high-end homes are priced from $2 million+. Urban high-rise condos also command luxury pricing of $1 million+.
While there is some overlap in mid-range pricing, Toll Brothers caters more exclusively to the luxury homebuyer. Shea offers greater variety from entry-level to high-end price points.
Shea Homes Pros and Cons
Let’s summarize some of the key advantages and potential drawbacks of buying a Shea Home:
Pros
- Long history and strong reputation on the West Coast
- Offers smaller starter homes for first-time buyers
- Family-focused communities with parks, trails, rec centers
- Trilogy 55+ active adult communities
- Shea3D Design Studio offers home personalization
- Quality construction with great customer service
- Mid-range price points under $1 million
Cons
- Less geographic coverage outside the West
- More limited luxury home options over $1 million
- Less interior design customization than some builders
- Mixed reviews outside their core CA, AZ, NV markets
Shea is ideal if you want a smaller home in a family-friendly community, active 55+ lifestyle, quality construction, and mid-range prices. But less customization and geographic reach than builders like Toll Brothers.
Also Read: Comparison of Toll Brothers And GL Homes.
Toll Brothers Pros and Cons
For Toll Brothers, some of the notable pros and cons include:
Pros
- National footprint in over 20 states
- Luxury homes up to 9,000 sq ft on average
- Premier master-planned communities
- Upscale amenities like golf, equestrian, country clubs
- Urban high-rise condo living options
- Extensive Design Studio customization
- Luxury features and finishes like Designer Collections
- Brand cachet of the Toll Brothers name
Cons
- Mixed reviews on build quality and customer service
- Higher pricing starts around $400,000+
- Large home and lot sizes require higher budget
- Less flexibility in floor plan changes
- Limited smaller entry-level home options
- Cater almost exclusively to high-end luxury buyers
Overall, Toll Brothers is right for luxury homebuyers who prioritize premium finishes, amenities, and the brand prestige. But lower customization flexibility and quality compared to some builders.
Wrapping Up
When weighing Shea Homes and Toll Brothers, there are tradeoffs to consider based on your budget, home size needs, preferred locations, and community amenities.
Shea Homes caters well to entry-level and move-up homebuyers with smaller homes and family-oriented communities mostly out West. Their quality, service, mid-range prices, and 55+ options are big advantages.
For luxury living, especially on the East Coast, Toll Brothers has the brand cachet, upscale communities, and luxury home sizes and finishes. But lower customization flexibility and more mixed reviews.
Thinking about your lifestyle priorities, timing, and budget constraints can help determine if Shea or Toll is the right fit. Consulting with a local real estate agent knowledgeable about each builder is also wise to weigh the pros and cons for your situation.
With their long track records, Shea Homes and Toll Brothers have each established strong reputations in regional markets catering to different homebuyer segments. Comparing their key differences in history, home types, amenities, customization, service, and costs can help you make the right new construction choice.