2023 Assisted Living Statistics
Current Data Trends and Projections
According to the most recent available data:
More than 810,000 people reside in assisted living facilities.
Assisted living costs an average of $4,300 per month.
The population of adults older than 85 will double by 2036 and triple by 2049.
7 out of 10 people require assisted living care in their lifetime.
The U.S. will need nearly 1 million new senior living units by 2040.
Nearly 30,000 assisted living facilities operate in the United States. On average, each assisted living facility accommodates 27 to 33 residents.
National senior living statistics
About 2% of seniors in the U.S. live in assisted living facilities. The average cost of assisted living in the U.S. is $4,300 per month. For context, the estimated median monthly cost for a 44-hour-a-week home health aide is $4,576.
An additional 4% of seniors live in nursing homes. The median cost of nursing homes nears $9,000 per month for a private room, making assisted living an affordable and popular choice for seniors who need more than just care during the day. As of 2019, California has 1,246,079 nursing facilities, the most of any state in the country.
Assisted living is more affordable than other senior care options, but it’s still a major expense. However, not everyone appropriately budgets for elder care plans.
Common conditions of assisted living residents
- High blood pressure
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Alzheimer’s or dementia
Common features across assisted living facilities
- Pharmacy access
- Nutritional guidance
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Nursing care
- Hospice care
Assisted living demographics
Assisted living facilities provide housing to aging residents with varying levels of independence. For some, this can mean taking care of their own hygiene needs while nurses manage their medications. Other residents may need assistance with everyday tasks and more intensive medical treatment. In addition to Alzheimer’s and dementia, some of the most common conditions of assisted living residents are high blood pressure, arthritis and heart disease.
- About 71% of residents have memory impairments. About 42% of residents have moderate to severe memory loss, and an additional 29% of residents have mild impairments. Memory care is more expensive than traditional assisted living — usually 20% to 30% more than the average.
- The average length of a stay in an assisted living facility is 22 months. As care needs become more intense, most assisted living residents move to nursing homes or other types of senior care.
- The majority of residents are women. About 71% of assisted living residents are women. This discrepancy is because many women outlive their spouses, leaving them without in-home support and in greater need of the care assisted living facilities provide.
- The majority of residents are in their 80s. The average age of assisted living residents is 84. Though most facilities allow patients as young as 65, 52% of residents are over 85 and 30% are between 75 and 84.
The reason for this growth: Baby boomers are currently 57 to 75 years old and represent 21.19% of the population. This is a sharp increase for this demographic — 20 years ago, the silent generation made up only about 15.4% of the population when it was aged 56 to 73.
This change in the U.S. aging population will likely create an increased demand for assisted living care. According to research from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), the U.S. will need almost 881,000 new units by 2030 and 986,000 by 2040.
Assisted living facility statistics by state
The financial burden of assisted living varies by state. It ranges from a median monthly price of $3,000 in Missouri to $6,690 in Delaware. Below, compare the total number of facilities and the average cost of assisted living by state.
Currently, Medicare covers up to 20 days of assisted living care. Most state Medicaid programs cover some assisted living costs, but the amount and days covered vary by state. Most residents need other financing methods beyond just insurance.
| State | Number of assisted living communities | Maximum licensed capacity | Average monthly costs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 300 | 9,700 | $3,150 | $37,800 |
| Alaska | 100 | 1,800 | $6,650 | $79,590 |
| Arizona | 1,400 | 24,900 | $3,900 | $48,000 |
| Arkansas | 100 | 5,800 | $3,500 | $42,000 |
| California | 5,900 | 127,000 | $5,000 | $60,000 |
| Colorado | 400 | 14,600 | $4,575 | $54,900 |
| Connecticut | 60 | 1,700 | $6,633 | $75,,600 |
| Delaware | 30 | 2,100 | $6,690 | $80,820 |
| Florida | 2,400 | 75,100 | $3,700 | $44,400 |
| Georgia | 900 | 25,200 | $3,900 | $48,000 |
| Hawaii | 300 | 5,200 | $5,000 | $60,000 |
| Idaho | 200 | 8,300 | $3,675 | $44,100 |
| Illinois | 400 | 31,000 | $4,575 | $54,900 |
| Indiana | 200 | 20,300 | $4,382 | $52,584 |
| Kansas | 400 | 12,100 | $5,090 | $61,080 |
| Kentucky | 200 | 12,500 | $3,699 | $44,385 |
| Louisiana | 100 | 5,300 | $3,675 | $43,665 |
| Maine | 240 | 6,500 | $5,942 | $71,298 |
| Maryland | 900 | 17,500 | $5,000 | $60,000 |
| Massachusetts | 300 | 13,600 | $6,300 | $73,020 |
| Michigan | 1,700 | 36,500 | $4,200 | $50,400 |
| Minnesota | 800 | 30,600 | $4,283 | $52,390 |
| Mississippi | 100 | 6,400 | $3,713 | $44,550 |
| Missouri | 400 | 19,900 | $3,000 | $36,000 |
| Montana | 200 | 5,900 | $4,213 | $50,550 |
| Nebraska | 200 | 11,300 | $4,188 | $50,250 |
| Nevada | 200 | 4,200 | $3,595 | $43,140 |
| New Hampshire | 100 | 4,800 | $6,650 | $79,800 |
| New Jersey | 200 | 21,300 | $6,650 | $79,800 |
| New Mexico | 100 | 4,200 | $4,050 | $48,600 |
| New York | 500 | 35,500 | $4,800 | $57,600 |
| North Carolina | 900 | 39,900 | $3,800 | $45,600 |
| North Dakota | 100 | 5,300 | $4,096 | $29,149 |
| Ohio | 600 | 42,800 | $4,350 | $52,200 |
| Oklahoma | 200 | 10,500 | $3,750 | $45,000 |
| Oregon | 1,500 | 31,500 | $4,659 | $55,905 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,000 | 62,900 | $3,955 | $47,457 |
| Rhode Island | 50 | 3,900 | $4,950 | $59,400 |
| South Carolina | 300 | 12,300 | $3,988 | $47,850 |
| South Dakota | 100 | 4,600 | $3,638 | $43,650 |
| Tennessee | 300 | 17,400 | $4,039 | $48,465 |
| Texas | 1,300 | 48,700 | $3,998 | $47,970 |
| Utah | 200 | 7,100 | $3,400 | $40,800 |
| Vermont | 90 | 2,400 | $5,310 | $63,720 |
| Virginia | 400 | 26,400 | $4,850 | $58,200 |
| Washington | 2,000 | 41,500 | $5,750 | $69,000 |
| West Virginia | 50 | 3,600 | $4,000 | $48,000 |
| Wisconsin | 1,000 | 36,100 | $4,400 | $52,800 |
| Wyoming | 20 | 800 | $4,174 | $50,100 |
Bottom line
As the senior population continues to grow, the need for more assisted living facilities is likely to increase drastically. Though assisted living is a more affordable alternative to nursing home care for many older adults, the cost of these facilities is also expected to rise as the industry expands.
No matter the size of the facility, you should always confirm the residence is licensed. The level of care needed is also an important factor in choosing a facility — smaller units may have relationships with doctors and local hospitals rather than on-call medical professionals.
by Kathryn Parkman ConsumerAffairs Research Team
