Here at The Senior List®, we set out to find the top assisted living facilities in large markets across the U.S. We begin our list in highly desirable markets around the country, and we’ll keep adding to it moving forward. Do you want to see your city on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
In order to come up with this list, we compiled reviews from the top senior housing websites in the country. Using this data, we crunched the numbers and came up with a methodology that works. We’ve been able to compile a robust list of top assisted living by city.
Most Popular Cities for Assisted Living
Alaska
Alaska is big, bold, and exciting with spectacular views and remarkable opportunities to revel in nature. Though its cities are relatively few, there are towns that offer a range of senior housing options, any of which would be ideal for people looking for assisted living in Alaska
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM is known for its dry desert air, hot balloon festivals and cultural variety. Albuquerque also offers a variety of senior housing options to choose from and some top-notch assisted living communities.
Atlanta, Georgia
While Atlanta conjures up images of Gone with the Wind, the city mixes old Southern charm and historical interest with all the modern amenities. An excellent mass transit network and relatively inexpensive lifestyle make it easy for seniors to experience all this multilayered town has to offer.
Austin, Texas
Austin has a big, colorful personality, offering a warm welcome to anyone who wants to live here. A walkable downtown, varied cultural and educational scene, friendly tax structure, and plenty of senior housing make this beautiful, sunny city a great option for a retirement destination.
Baltimore, Maryland
Just shy of its 300th birthday Baltimore is dedicated to ensuring its retirees thrive. Baltimore is rich with historical sites and has set a city-wide goal to create the safest, healthiest, and most easy-to-traverse city for its growing senior population.
Birmingham, Alabama
With Birmingham’s generally mild climate, outdoor activities happen year-round. For those who prefer theatre, live music, or art will find plenty of choices. The lower cost of living also makes this a great alternative to other sunny but more costly and heavily populated cities.
Boise, Idaho
Boise has both one of the lowest crime rates in the country and a highly diverse population. This cultural diversity makes for fascinating dining and educational options, as well as tourist attractions. Pedestrian- and bike-friendly, this is a town that has a little bit of everything.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is among the many U.S. towns eager to supply desirable senior housing. Buffalo offers art, history, sports, great healthcare and an effective transportation system. Whether living in the city or in one of its suburbs, people there enjoy both a strong sense of community and a relatively low cost of living.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, NC is experiencing fast growth partly attributed to the number of retirees who are looking for sunshine and low cost of living. With a plethora of senior housing options to choose from, Charlotte is an easy retirement pick for older adults.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is known for many features including attractively hilly terrain, a substantial collection of 19th-century buildings, and the impressive healthcare system. Throw in the senior-friendly tax system, and what’s not to like?
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs was designed as a resort town and the ability to accommodate its residents – especially seniors – has only increased over time. Even nature wants to please, providing 270+days of sunshine annually.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is known for many things including its breweries, its historically intriguing and highly walkable neighborhoods, downtown, and a wild range of festivals. The city has received awards for being the most “intelligent” city in the world, with its devotion to making this lovely town yet more responsive and accessible to all.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas has a senior-friendly tax structure and (generally) mild winters. The city is a mecca for golfers or anyone who enjoys being outdoors year-round. Dallas is an exceptionally diverse city that sparkles with entertainment, cultural options, and a variety of senior housing options.
Denver, Colorado
Denver offers a wide range of affordable senior housing. The city is tax-friendly and served by an efficient, inexpensive mass transit system. It’s easy to get around and enjoy all the sites and the dining scene, not to mention the parks and outdoor sports.
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines has developed as a retirement destination over the last 20 years or so. The attractive city, lying alongside the Des Moines River, has invested in expanding senior housing options, mass transit, arts and entertainment, and shopping, not to mention their emphasis on prime healthcare.
Hawaii
Whether you’re looking for the nightlife or a more casual, rustic experience, Hawaii’s five main islands can supply it. Seniors should be prepared for an exotic landscape and a sun-filled, gentle climate. The friendly tax structure may just be the icing on your (pineapple) cake.
Houston, Texas
Houston has become one of the most popular cities in the country. Among the things that make it unique are its exceptional cultural diversity, state-of-the-art medical facilities, and the depth of entertainment and education options. If that’s not enough, add in more than 300 parks, beautiful beaches, and a sunny climate.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis has frequently been rated among the most livable US cities, in part because of its walkability, the quality of its parks, and the range of its cultural activities.
Jacksonville, Florida
Even by Florida’s standards, Jacksonville is exceptional. A lush landscape, generally mild weather, endless entertainment options, and a very senior-tax-friendly structure make this town worthy of attention. Museums, the symphony, golf year-round – and that’s just the beginning.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City is among the safest cities in the state and ranked the seventh lowest cost-of-living in the US. With its easy-living style, Kansas City provides ample dining and entertainment opportunities. Choose to explore the town’s 90+ historic buildings, visit a casino, or take in a race at the Kansas Speedway.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is a particularly vibrant university town, known for merging the old with the new by renovating old buildings into new work or living spaces. The town also boasts some 48 festivals annually, an easily accessed and scintillating arts scene, and the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains and Ohio River.
Miami, Florida
Miami owes much of its appeal to its colorful, flavorful, and melodic Spanish heritage. Additionally, factor in that the temperature seldom dips below 60 degrees F, it’s mostly tax-friendly, there’s an increasingly effective mass transit system, and the list of things to do and see is endless.
Montana
Montana offers something few states can: a sense of the Old West and freedom and independence many people long for. The lower cost of living (especially for veterans), lack of traffic congestion, excellent healthcare network, and access to nature on a glorious scale makes for life lived on a grand scale.
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville has the second lowest cost of living in the US, also has an appealing array of senior housing. The mild winter climate, combined with an exceptional live music scene and first-rate medical facilities, make Nashville worth looking in to.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City with its four clear-cut seasons and lower-than-average cost of living offers a comfortable, lower-key lifestyle. Rich with dining and cultural options, residents and their guests will always have something to do. The city planners continue efforts to further make this a town people want to call home.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia has a mild climate and an exceptional mass transit system, making it easy to get out and explore the town’s immense history. Explore museums, take advantage of educational opportunities, watch various sports teams or golf to your heart’s content.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh offers a gorgeous and historically intriguing setting and low cost of living. You can factor in great senior housing options, and loads of exciting entertainment, cultural and educational opportunities. The city is enjoying its own renaissance.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City has worked hard to make itself attractive to anyone wanting a new home. For retirees, there’s a blend of great housing, gorgeous views, public transportation, and the vitality of a university town.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is nearly unbeatable when it comes to air and water quality, cost of living, and the number of activities. This 300-year-old city was – and is still – shaped by both the Old West and Mexican culture. Both historic and cutting edge, San Antonio provides a lifestyle in which older adults can thrive.
San Diego, California
San Diego has been a popular retirement town since World War II. Not only does this beautiful and stimulating city offer a mild and sunny climate (annual temperatures range from the upper seventies to the low forties), but also boasts a lower than average crime rate among U.S. cities.
San Francisco, California
Whatever type of senior housing you’re looking for, San Francisco has it. Don’t worry about the terrain; well-developed mass transit makes it easy to sample the outrageous amount of entertainment and style this classic city has to offer. The mild climate makes it comfortable all year-round.
San Jose, California
San Jose not only provides an overall glittering lifestyle but can take pride in its significantly lower-than-average US crime rate. With its gorgeous scenery and climate, and innumerable activities, it may well be the ideal for any retiree. An added bonus, all that San Francisco has to offer is a little under an hour away.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is ideally situated on Florida’s Western coast, is culturally diverse and affordable. Museums, parks, restaurants, shopping, all forms of entertainment including major league sports teams – Tampa has it all. And the climate: not as hot as southern Florida and comfy all year long.
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city shaped largely by its complex Native American and Mexican past and the warm climate enjoyed by the people who live here. Vibrantly alive, Tucson blends small-town charm with big-city comforts. Sports, arts, culture, cuisine, and good healthcare – it’s all at your fingertips.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is a town known for its friendliness and lies along the picturesque Arkansas River and near the breathtaking Ozark Mountains and Osage Hills. While celebrating its Native American and cowboy past, the town also provides an array of modern entertainment, shopping, dining, and cultural experiences.
Waco, Texas
Waco is rapidly developing as a desirable retirement destination. The low cost of living, the range of housing options, lots of sun, and a wealth of outdoor – and indoor – entertainment options makes Waco a smart choice for retirees. Shopping, museum-hopping, live music, good food – this town has it all.
Wyoming
Wyoming is the least populous state in the Union and continues to draw more retirees each year. It is very tax-friendly and a nature lover’s paradise. The sunny climate lets residents enjoy the multiple rivers, impressive mountains, and a broad selection of flora and fauna underneath that big blue sky.
Hi Judy! I think we will, keep checking back!
Thanks for the feedback Robert, will add it to the list for consideration!
Hi Linda, We have Boise on the short list! Check back in a week or two for the results! Best, Amie
Hi Alexis, We will add it to the list!
Hi Joanne, We’re continually updating these “best of” lists in major metropolitan markets. Please keep checking back to see if we get closer to Northern New Jersey! Thank you for the feedback 🙂