RANKED: 2024 AMERICA’S MOST TRUSTED ACTIVE ADULT BUILDER
What is the Best 55+ Builder?
Are you in pursuit of an active adult community? Every year, millions of individuals aged 55 and above search for a new residence, with active adult communities ranking high on their considerations. Selecting the right place to live is a crucial decision influenced by location preferences and the reputation of the community's developer. While numerous active adult communities span the United States, only a handful of builders specialize in developing and constructing 55-plus communities. Those aged 55 and older actively seek their ideal next home, pondering a crucial question – Who stands out as the most reputable builder of active adult resorts in America?
The 2024 America’s Most Trusted Study
Inaugurated over a decade ago, the America’s Most Trusted® study was instigated to provide brands with vital insights into the critical role of trust in consumer purchasing decisions. Perceptive brands grasp that consumer trust significantly influences business performance. This study has solidified its status as the authoritative measure for evaluating brand trust, eagerly awaited each year, with refreshed results published in January.
The term "brand trust" refers to a customer's belief in a brand's ability to meet its obligations. Building brand trust with customers is crucial to ensuring their continued loyalty. Customers are more likely to purchase and recommend a brand that they trust when they trust it. In addition to building customer loyalty, brand trust helps to build customer loyalty as customers are more likely to remain loyal to the brand they trust.
We have shared the most recent America's Most Trusted® study results each year since Lifestory Research began conducting the study. Thousands of people are surveyed on their perceptions and experiences with over 75 products yearly. In this study, we evaluate how much people trust specific brands when shopping for a specific product based on the Net Trust Quotient Score.
Net Trust Quotient Scores (NTQS) are a metric that assesses whether consumers are confident about a particular brand within a particular product category. The scores determine if the product meets consumer expectations compared to competitors. Using social and opinion science research practices that adhere to the highest quality consumer research standards, this trust metric aims to provide consumer-driven insights into consumer behavior. Are the top active adult brands people trust the most?
The Lifestory Research active adult builder ratings, reviews, and awards are based on detailed survey feedback based on the opinions and trust ratings of those surveyed in the 55-plus builder study. We do not use third-party reviews and ratings, editorial committees, or industry professionals in determining the most trusted 55-plus builder brands. We rely on real people's opinions and rigorous social scientific survey standards to obtain active adult consumer ratings, including sample sizes designed to reflect the target audience's opinions. All active adult builders' research findings are exclusively founded on the opinions of people who independently completed the surveys in America's Most Trusted Research program.
An active adult community, sometimes called an age-restricted or age-qualified community, is a residential neighborhood or housing development designed for individuals aged 55 and older. These communities are crafted to cater to the needs and preferences of older adults looking for a lifestyle emphasizing social and recreational activities while providing amenities supporting an independent and active lifestyle.
Key features of active adult communities often include single-story homes or condominiums and recreational facilities like golf courses, swimming pools, fitness centers, and clubhouses. Additionally, these communities may offer organized social events, classes, and activities tailored to the interests of the residents. The goal is to create an environment where residents can enjoy an active and engaged lifestyle while surrounded by peers in a similar stage of life.
It's important to note that rules and regulations regarding age restrictions and community amenities can vary, and residents are usually required to meet specific age criteria to live in these communities. Active adult communities have become a housing option for those seeking a vibrant and socially connected retirement lifestyle.
2024 America’s Most Trusted Active Adult Resort Builder
The Lifestory Research 2024 study on America’s Most Trusted® Active Adult Resort Builder has identified Trilogy by Shea Homes as the foremost trusted brand for individuals contemplating acquiring a home in a 55-plus active adult community. Boasting a Net Trust Quotient Score of 111.7, Trilogy by Shea Homes secured the highest level of trust among the most prominent brands in the active adult housing market.
The Lifestory Research 2024 America’s Most Trusted® Active Adult Resort Builder ranking is based on 20,164 opinions of people surveyed in the United States over the last 12 months. The brands featured in the study ranking were nationally acknowledged by individuals actively searching for a new home within a 55+ community.
Trilogy has ranked #1 in the Lifestory Research America's Most Trusted® Active Adult Resort Builder Study 12 years in a row, an achievement unmet by any other brand. The most trusted 55+ brands were Trilogy by Shea Homes, Esplanade by Taylor Morrison, Toll Brothers, Four Seasons by K. Hovnanian, Del Webb, Lennar, and The Villages (Florida).
Brands with inadequate awareness and judgments were excluded from the rankings based on predefined criteria. Inclusion necessitated a significant number of survey responses, resulting in a 95% confidence level with no more than a 3% margin of error. This rigorous standard ensures that the results are reliable and accurately reflect the opinions of the surveyed population regarding the brands under examination.
The top 55+ brands ranked in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® study are listed below.
TOP 7 Ranked Active Adult Resort Builders – 2024 Study
| 1 | Trilogy by Shea Homes | 111.7 | ★★★★★ |
| 2 | Esplanade by Taylor Morrison | 106.4 | ☆☆☆ |
| 3 | Toll Brothers | 106.0 | ☆☆☆ |
| 4 | Four Seasons by K. Hovnanian | 106.0 | ☆☆☆ |
| 5 | Del Webb | 103.4 | ☆☆ |
| 6 | Lennar | 98.0 | ☆☆ |
| 7 | The Villages (Florida) | 95.9 | ☆☆ |
No promotional use or advertising can be made of America's Most Trusted® survey results without the express prior written consent of Lifestory Research. America's Most Trusted® is a registered trademark of Lifestory with all rights reserved.
The America’s Most Trusted® study is an annual study examining brand trust across many product categories. Results for this product category and others from prior years of the study can be found here. Further details of the annual study are on the survey methodology page of this website. Additional insights and questions are answered in our frequently asked questions.
Lifestory Research America's Most Trusted® Study results are based on survey responses and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Your experiences may vary. For details, see our Terms of Use and Legal Notices on the Lifestory Research website.
Brands Ranked in Study
The Lifestory Research America’s Most Trusted® research study actively surveys new home shoppers searching for an age qualified (i.e., 55 plus, active adult) community throughout the year in the largest housing markets in the United States. The study is focused on measuring consumers' opinions of the largest active adult builders operating in each of the markets in the study. In the study, consumers rate the quality of the 55 plus home builder, their likelihood to recommend the active adult builder, how favorable they feel about the age qualified builder, how they rate their reputation, positive and negative comments they have heard about the active adult builder, and trust in the 55+ builder.
The annual America’s Most Trusted® study ranks the largest active adult home builders in the United States based on the thousands of consumers who rated their trust in the home 55 plus builder. While the study collects ratings on many age-qualified builders, the America’s Most Trusted® ranking only examines the most brands recognized by shoppers. The national ranking includes only active adult brands operating in multiple housing markets. Active adult brands that have a single retirement community or only have communities in a single housing market are typically excluded from the national rankings.
Here, we provide information on the age-qualified builders in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® study. The active adult builders are presented in the order they ranked in the 2024 America’s Most Trusted® Home Builder study, beginning with the twelve-time winner – Trilogy by Shea Homes.
Trilogy by Shea Homes: Trilogy is a brand of 55+ active lifestyle communities developed by Shea Homes, an American homebuilding company. Headquartered in Walnut, California, Shea Homes was founded in 1968. Trilogy communities are designed for residents aged 55 and older, offering amenities and activities to support an active and social lifestyle. Trilogy has communities across the United States, concentrating in Arizona (Phoenix), California, Idaho (Boise), Washington (Seattle), Nevada (Las Vegas), North Carolina (Charlotte), Florida (Orlando), and Virginia.
Esplanade by Taylor Morrison: Esplanade is a brand of age-qualified communities developed by Taylor Morrison, an American homebuilding company. Taylor Morrison, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, was founded in 2007. Esplanade communities are tailored for residents aged 55 and older, providing a range of amenities and recreational facilities. Esplanade by Taylor Morrison currently has active adult communities in California, Florida, and North Carolina.
Toll Brothers: Toll Brothers is a luxury homebuilding company based in Horsham, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1967, Toll Brothers is known for constructing upscale residential communities and custom homes. While not exclusively focused on the 55-plus demographic, Toll Brothers offers a variety of home designs to suit different preferences and lifestyles.
Four Seasons by K. Hovnanian: Four Seasons is a brand of active lifestyle communities developed by K. Hovnanian Homes, an American homebuilding company. Headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey, K. Hovnanian was founded in 1959. Four Seasons communities are designed for residents aged 55 and older, featuring amenities and services to support an active retirement lifestyle.
Del Webb: Del Webb is a brand of active adult communities that was acquired by PulteGroup, an American homebuilding company. PulteGroup, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded in 1950. Del Webb communities, which originated in 1960, cater to residents aged 55 and older, offering a range of amenities and social activities. There are about 60 Del Webb communities open for sale in 20 states.
Lennar: Lennar Corporation is an American homebuilding company headquartered in Miami, Florida. Founded in 1954, Lennar is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. While not exclusively focused on the 55-plus demographic, Lennar offers a variety of home designs across different types of communities to meet various lifestyle preferences. Lennar has many age-qualified 55+ communities throughout the US.
The Villages (Florida): The Villages is a large retirement community in Florida. Developed by The Villages, Inc., this community is unique because it is a self-contained town designed for active senior living. The Villages is located in Central Florida and spans three counties – Marion County in the north, Sumter County in the southwest, and Lake County in the east. It's one of the world's largest 55+ communities, with over 50,000 homes and many squares. It's a master-planned, age-restricted community about an hour north of Orlando. The Villages offers a wide range of amenities, recreational activities, and services within its boundaries, creating a vibrant and inclusive environment for residents aged 55 and older.
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