When it comes to new home construction in the United States, Tri Pointe Homes and Toll Brothers are two of the biggest names in the game. Both companies build homes across the country, but they have some key differences that home buyers should consider.
This comprehensive guide will compare Tri Pointe and Toll Brothers across a range of factors to help you determine which builder is the best fit for your needs.
Key Differences At-a-Glance
Before getting into the nitty gritty details, here’s a quick overview of how Tri Pointe and Toll Brothers differ:
| Aspects | Tri Pointe Homes | Toll Brothers |
| Years in Business | 10+ | 50+ |
| Home Types | Mostly single-family detached homes with some attached homes | Single-family detached homes, townhomes, active adult 55+ communities |
| Number of States | 10 | 24 |
| Starting Price Range | Mid $300,000s | High $400,000s |
| Luxury Focus | No | Yes |
| Customization | Flexible | Limited |
| Green Building | Yes | Limited |
As you can see, Toll Brothers has been building homes for far longer than the younger Tri Pointe, operates in more states, and offers a wider range of home types including luxury properties.
Tri Pointe offers more flexibility in customization and sustainability features at a more affordable starting price point for the typical move-up buyer.
Now let’s explore these key differences in more detail.
Company History and Reputation
Tri Pointe Homes was founded in 2009 and is based in Irvine, California.
They design, construct, and sell single-family detached and attached homes in 10 states across the U.S.
Tri Pointe has delivered over 17,000 homes since being established less than 15 years ago.
Toll Brothers has been building homes since 1967, making it one of the most established home construction companies in America.
Headquartered in Pennsylvania, Toll Brothers operates in 24 states and has constructed over 500,000 homes in its 50+ year history.
They offer single-family homes, townhomes, and active adult communities.
When it comes to reputation, both Tri Pointe and Toll Brothers are well-regarded national home builders. Toll Brothers has more brand recognition given its long history and luxury offerings.
Tri Pointe is less known but earns strong reviews for quality craftsmanship and customer service.
Home Design and Quality Comparison
The homes built by Tri Pointe and Toll Brothers have notable differences when it comes to architectural design, size options, and overall quality.
Tri Pointe Homes focuses on mainstream single-family homes ranging from around 1,500 to 4,500 square feet on average. Their home designs tend to be more contemporary or modern with open floor plans. Tri Pointe offers quality finishes like granite countertops, hardwood floors, and name brand appliances.
Toll Brothers is best known for large luxury homes often over 4,000 square feet on generous lots.
Their home designs feature more traditional suburban architecture and upscale details like marble countertops, intricate millwork, and premium fixtures. Toll Brothers is seen as a premium home builder.
Both companies construct homes efficiently using a mix of sticking framing and modular construction. While quality varies by community, Toll Brothers edges out Tri Pointe when it comes to master craftsmanship and luxury touches.
But Tri Pointe offers excellent construction and finishes at a more affordable price point.
Customization Options
One area where Tri Pointe and Toll Brothers differ significantly is in their flexibility for home buyer customization.
Tri Pointe Homes takes a more flexible approach to personalization and allows home buyers to make structural changes to plans as well as customize finishes. You can work with a design specialist to tweak the floor plan to fit your lifestyle. Tri Pointe aims to accommodate buyer preferences when reasonable.
Toll Brothers offers more limited opportunities to personalize homes. They have set floor plans and finish packages to choose from, but structural changes are generally not possible. Interior finishes can be customized within set limits.
Toll Brothers prioritizes efficient construction over an ultra customized home.
So if you want the ability to rework rooms or make structural modifications, Tri Pointe will likely be the better fit. Those seeking a more personalized finish selection may also prefer them. But Toll Brothers offers ample choices too, just within defined packages.
Pricing and Affordability
Not surprisingly given the differences above, Tri Pointe Homes and Toll Brothers are positioned at quite different price points.
Tri Pointe markets to the move-up buyer, with most homes ranging from the mid $300,000s to high $600,000s.
Their affordable segment under Tri Pointe Solutions can go as low as the $200,000s. Home sizes average from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet.
Toll Brothers is in the luxury segment, with base prices typically between the high $400,000s to multi-millions. Their home sizes usually start at around 2,500 square feet but can exceed 10,000+ for luxury estates. Lot premiums also add significant cost for prime locations.
While both builders offer a range of prices, Toll Brothers communities are often at least 25-50% higher for similar sized homes compared to Tri Pointe. Expect to pay a premium for their higher end features and brand cache in selected neighborhoods.
In terms of affordability, Tri Pointe caters well to buyers looking for family-sized homes without luxury frills at reasonable prices. Toll Brothers targets those who prioritize premier locations, top-tier details, and don’t mind paying more.
Locations and Availability
Tri Pointe and Toll Brothers have notably different approaches when it comes to selecting communities and expanding to new markets.
Tri Pointe takes a focused approach, building homes in 10 states including West Coast hubs like California, Washington, and Arizona as well as Colorado, Texas, and the Southeast. They carefully research and enter neighborhoods aligned with target demographics.
Toll Brothers operates in nearly double the states of Tri Pointe, with communities across Northern and Southern California, the Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Colorado, Texas, the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions. They prioritize affluent areas.
Availability also differs, with Toll Brothers tending to have fewer homes under construction in each community at once while Tri Pointe offers more ready-to-move-in inventory.
So Toll Brothers gives you broader geographic access to homes, especially on the East Coast, while Tri Pointe takes a more selective approach but may have more homes available at any moment in the neighborhoods they do operate in.
Sustainability Comparison
For buyers prioritizing green building and energy efficiency, Tri Pointe Homes comes out significantly ahead of Toll Brothers when it comes to sustainability.
Nearly all Tri Pointe homes come with solar power systems already installed to reduce energy costs and carbon footprint.
They also partner with green energy provider Arcadia to offset electricity usage.
Many communities have EV charging pre-wiring and infrastructure in place as well.
Toll Brothers offers very few sustainability initiatives or features in their homes. Energy Star appliances and certification may be available, but few developments have solar power or EV readiness.
So if you want a lower utility bill along with an eco-friendlier home, Tri Pointe is certainly the leader in green building practices over Toll Brothers today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Tri Pointe and Toll Brothers are both trusted national home builders with strong reputations. But Toll Brothers edges out Tri Pointe slightly on brand reputation given its 50+ years in business compared to Tri Pointe’s 10+ years. However, Tri Pointe earns strong reviews for quality and service.
D.R. Horton is Toll Brothers’ biggest publicly traded competitor building mainstream single-family homes. But Lennar and PulteGroup also compete directly with Toll Brothers in many suburban markets. Tri Pointe competes less directly as it focuses on lower price points.
Tri Pointe Homes has been in business for over 10 years, having been founded in 2009 and headquartered in Irvine, California. The company has delivered around 17,000 homes since being established.
Tri Pointe Homes constructs homes in 10 states: California, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Their core markets are Southern California, Northern California, Seattle metro, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Wrapping Up
When choosing between Tri Pointe and Toll Brothers, weigh factors like your budget, desire for customization, preferred home style and location, sustainability priorities, and more.
Overall, Tri Pointe Homes caters well to buyers focused on contemporary mainstream homes with flexible design options at reasonable prices. Their sustainability features are also a key advantage.
Toll Brothers is ideal for those seeking luxury living, premium details, aspirational communities, and a proven reputation. But you’ll pay more and have less flexibility.
Whichever builder fits your lifestyle and vision, you can feel confident choosing between these two leading national home construction firms. Just consider the key differences outlined as you make your new home purchase decision.
