Blog · Active Adult Living
Sterling Grove and Trilogy at Vistancia: Downsizing Comparison
An objective comparison of Sterling Grove in Surprise and Trilogy at Vistancia in Peoria for downsizers: the age rules, amenities, golf, memberships, and fees to verify.
By Andrew Texidor Realtor · Founder, Clearly Sold Updated October 8, 2026 
The direct answer
Sterling Grove and Trilogy at Vistancia are two very different communities for a downsizer to consider. Sterling Grove in Surprise is a staff-gated master-planned community with both all-ages and 55+ sections, so the age rules depend on the specific neighborhood. Trilogy at Vistancia in Peoria is the age-qualified village inside the all-ages Vistancia master plan. Both offer resort-style amenities, but membership and access differ, and neither community is the ideal fit for every resident. Verify the current rules, fees, and amenities with each community before you choose.
Key takeaways
- Sterling Grove in Surprise is not uniformly 55+. It is a staff-gated master-planned community with all-ages single-family homes, 55+ active-adult collections, condos, and villas, so the age rules depend on the specific section.
- Trilogy at Vistancia in Peoria is the age-qualified village inside the all-ages Vistancia master plan, with an age rule that requires at least one resident 55 or older under the housing-for-older-persons framework.
- Both communities offer resort-style amenities, but membership and access differ. Golf, social memberships, HOA privileges, and public access are separate things and should be verified independently.
- Fees vary by community, section, and source. HOA assessments and club or initiation fees are published figures that change, so confirm the current numbers with each community at the time you commit.
- Neither community is the ideal fit for every resident, and no community guarantees a lifestyle or a downsizing outcome. Match the community to your goals and verify the rules.
What are the age and occupancy rules at each community?
Sterling Grove is not uniformly 55+. Toll Brothers describes it as a staff-gated master-planned community with all-ages single-family homes, 55+ active-adult collections, condos, and villas. In the 55+ neighborhoods, at least one resident must be 55 or older under the housing-for-older-persons framework, and permanent residency by anyone under 18 is generally not allowed. The all-ages sections have no such restriction. Because the rules depend on the section, verify the specific neighborhood you are considering.
Trilogy at Vistancia is the age-qualified village inside the all-ages Vistancia master plan in Peoria. It operates under the housing-for-older-persons framework, with at least one resident 55 or older. Confirm the current occupancy rules with the community directly, since they can differ from what third-party sources describe.
How do the amenities and golf compare?
Sterling Grove offers resort-style amenities centered on a private golf course and a large clubhouse, with a staff-gated entry. Trilogy at Vistancia offers a set of club experiences, athletic facilities, and a championship golf course with its own membership structure. In both communities, golf is generally separate from the HOA assessment, and access depends on membership terms rather than homeownership alone.
Distinguish golf memberships, social memberships, HOA privileges, and public access. They are separate things with separate fees, and assuming one includes the other is a common mistake. Ask each community for the current membership structure and what each tier includes.
What do the fees look like, and why do they vary?
Both communities carry HOA assessments, and both may add club or initiation fees at closing. The published figures vary by community, section, and source, and they change over time. A quarterly or monthly assessment can look low while a one-time club fee is substantial, so read the full fee schedule, not just one number.
Because fees and terms change, confirm the current numbers with each community at the time you commit. No published estimate replaces the community's own current fee schedule.
How do you compare the two fairly?
Use the same criteria for both: the specific section you are considering, the age and occupancy rules, the amenities you will actually use, the membership structure, the full fee picture, and the commute or location factors that matter to you. Put the answers in writing, then weigh the tradeoffs against your goals.
No community is the ideal fit for every resident, and no community guarantees a lifestyle or a downsizing outcome. The honest comparison includes the range, the tradeoffs, and what to verify, not a winner.
Before you choose: the checklist
- Identify the specific section or neighborhood you are considering
- Confirm the current age and occupancy rules with the community
- Separate golf, social membership, HOA privileges, and public access
- Read the full fee schedule, including one-time club and initiation fees
- Compare both communities on the same criteria before choosing
Frequently asked questions
Is Sterling Grove entirely a 55+ community?
No. Sterling Grove is a master-planned community with both all-ages and 55+ sections. The age and occupancy rules depend on the specific neighborhood or collection, so verify the section you are considering rather than assuming the whole community is age-restricted.
What is the age rule at Trilogy at Vistancia?
Trilogy at Vistancia is the age-qualified village inside the Vistancia master plan, operating under the housing-for-older-persons framework with at least one resident 55 or older. Confirm the current occupancy rules with the community directly.
Is golf included with homeownership in either community?
Golf is generally separate from the HOA assessment in these communities. Membership, access, and fees are distinct from homeownership and from social membership, so verify the current golf and membership terms with each community.
Which community is better for downsizing?
There is no universal answer. The right fit depends on your goals, your budget, the section you are considering, and the fees and rules that apply. Compare the two communities on the same criteria and verify the current details before you choose.
Related resources
- Active adult living The 55+ corridor, with the real fees, rules, and lifestyle questions.
- Sterling Grove community guide The Toll Brothers community in Surprise, with its all-ages and 55+ sections.
- Trilogy at Vistancia community guide The age-qualified village inside the Vistancia master plan in Peoria.
- Downsizing in Trilogy at Vistancia Clubs, golf costs, and staged steps for moving into the Peoria community.
- Peoria vs Surprise active adult guide Community-by-community comparison of the northwest corridor.
- West Valley active adult guide The corridor mapped in general terms, with what to verify with each community.
Educational note: this article compares two communities in general terms. Age rules, occupancy rules, amenities, memberships, fees, and access change over time and vary by section and source. Confirm current details with each community directly. Nothing here is a recommendation, an endorsement, a lifestyle guarantee, or a promise of any downsizing outcome.
Next step
Comparing downsizing options?
A strategy call can map the communities, the sections, and the real fee picture before you commit. No pressure, just a plan you can act on.
- Phone
- 623-400-5957
- andrew@clearlysold.com