Seniors-only apartments, 55+ housing communities, independent living communities, and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are all considered retirement communities. Seniors-only apartments tend to be the least expensive option, with a median cost of about $1,475 per month. In some 55+ communities, single-family style homes or townhouses cost about $2,207 per month. Independent living communities provide apartment living, services, and amenities for about $3,145 per month. Retirement community costs vary considerably depending on location, floor plan, and on-site services and amenities. Generally, assisted living facilities, memory care, and nursing homes aren’t considered retirement communities.
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Seniors-only apartment communities have minimum age requirements – usually either 55 or 62 years of age – and tend to offer accessible design features, such as low-threshold showers, ramps, and other safety modifications. Residents aren’t responsible for landscaping and maintenance services.
“Seniors-only apartments are appealing for someone who’s still very active and independent and simply wants the benefits of maintenance-free living. Maybe they’re tired of paying for home repairs or cleaning up after storms,” explains A Place for Mom’s Niki Gewirtz, who has more than two decades of experience managing senior living communities.
“Seniors-only apartments can also be good for folks who live in extreme climates – they don’t have to go out to get to the fitness center when it’s bad outside,” says Gewirtz.
The national median cost of renting a senior apartment is about $1,475 per month plus minus any community or maintenance fees, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.[01] Seniors-only apartments are typically the least expensive retirement community option, but monthly rent can vary significantly depending on location, supply and demand, and size.
Like traditional apartments, seniors-only apartments generally have standard long-term leases with rent due each month and little to no upfront entrance fee other than a deposit. Rent typically includes accessible amenities and services such as fitness centers and pools in higher-end buildings, planned activities, on-site security, and maintenance. Optional services such as housekeeping and dry cleaning may be offered by third-party companies for an additional fee.
In addition to apartments, some 55+ communities offer single-family condominiums, townhomes, or freestanding houses for sale or rent. Depending on the community design, some neighborhoods may have extensive grounds with an array of exclusive resident amenities such as clubhouses for parties and gyms with pools. Some also offer extra services, like housekeeping or meal delivery for an additional cost.
“A single-family home in a 55+ community is great for someone who still drives and needs a garage or just likes the idea of not sharing a wall with their next-door neighbor,” explains Gewirtz.
Purchasing a home in a 55+ community is like purchasing a home in any community: the average monthly payment for a new mortgage in the U.S. is about $2,207 in 2025.[02]
Pricing greatly varies depending on location, the number of bedrooms, and the features included. Homeowner’s association (HOA) or entry fees typically apply, but they may cover lawn care, snow removal, and senior-specific amenities.
In addition to mortgage payments, residents of single-family homes in 55+ communities pay buy-in fees to cover amenities such as pools, parks, and senior centers, along with landscaping and maintenance. Communities may have a list of recommended vendors that provide additional on-site services for a fee, such as housekeeping or meal delivery.
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Independent living communities are designed for older adults who want a maintenance-free lifestyle and don’t need full-time medical or personal care. Residents can take advantage of communal amenities and individual services such as housekeeping, linen, and meal services. Most stand-alone independent living communities don’t provide assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) or the individualized care that assisted living and memory care offer.
However, multiple types of senior living may be available in a single community. A Place for Mom’s Gewirtz explains, “Well over half of our partner communities offer more than one type of senior living,” Gewirtz explains. “They offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care on the same campus because they’re licensed to provide the full spectrum of care. Residents and their families really appreciate that they don’t have to move when their care needs change,” says Gewirtz.
The median cost of independent living in the U.S. is approximately $3,145 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2025 report on the cost of long-term care. That’s more than twice the monthly cost of renting a senior apartment and nearly $1,800 less per month than the monthly median cost of assisted living.[03] Costs for assisted living are higher because residents are receiving care.
Independent living communities usually cost more than senior apartments and 55+ communities because of the amenities and the all-inclusive, maintenance-free lifestyle. Independent living costs vary by supply and demand, geographic location, floor plan, services, and amenities.
Independent living communities usually offer an all-inclusive fee structure, unlike 55+ communities or senior apartments. Utilities, landscaping, maintenance, housekeeping, security, and sometimes even meal services are typically bundled into rent payments. Independent living services, such as light housekeeping, transportation, and senior-oriented activities, may also be included in monthly costs.
Continuing care retirement communities (or CCRCs) offer the entire spectrum of senior care: independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing — all on a single campus. They vary in the type of housing they offer, including apartments, suites, and houses, so you can find an option that fits your lifestyle.
CCRCs, also known as life plan communities, are geared towards seniors who want an all-in-one option that allows them to age in place without needing to move when their care needs change. Assisted living provides help with activities of daily living (ADLs), while skilled nursing care focuses more on medical needs. Advanced care services usually include skilled nursing care, 24-hour supervision, assistance with ADLs, and rehabilitation services.
“Of all retirement communities, CCRCs typically offer the most services and amenities,” Gewirtz explains. “Residents can live next to a golf course, some have a medical center onsite…they’re often very luxurious options,” says Gewirtz.
At about $5,000 per month, CCRCs are typically the most expensive option for seniors looking for a retirement community.[04] However, monthly costs can vary dramatically by location and available services and amenities. CCRCs also charge an entry fee, which is essentially a health insurance package that enables residents to stay in their homes while also having access to skilled nursing care. Entry fees vary by age and circumstances, but they’re typically high as they help cover any skilled nursing care services residents may need in future. In 2025, the median entry fee is about $129,298,[01] but can range from $50,000 to $500,000 or higher.
When aging adults move into the independent living neighborhood of a CCRC, they begin paying for future care as well as current amenities. Thankfully, there are several ways to cover these additional assisted living costs — Medicare, bridge loans, and reverse mortgages are a few examples.
Depending on the contract, a substantial part of a CCRC’s entry fee may be refunded when a resident leaves the community. For instance, if a senior moves out or passes away without using their community’s nursing care services, the community may refund a portion of the CCRC entry fee to the resident’s family or estate. We recommend checking with the prospective community about their entry fee refund policy before signing the contract.
Some CCRCs offer a payment model without an upfront fee. This model gives seniors the option to pay a higher monthly fee for their future care services instead of paying for future care up front.
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“There really is something out there for everyone,” says Gewirtz. “There are places that focus on independent living, for example, that also partner with third-party home and home health care agencies. And there are places that offer the entire spectrum of care,” Gewirtz explains.
Understanding your local retirement community options and costs is crucial to finding affordable independent living. Use A Place for Mom’s senior living cost calculator to understand costs in your area, or reach out to a Senior Living Advisor for support in your retirement community search. At no cost to you, they’ll provide local options that fit your unique budget and preferences.
Yes, most retirement communities charge entrance fees. It’s important to check the contract to see if this fee is refundable if you decide to move out of the community.
When you’re evaluating senior living communities, it’s a good idea to ask how a community handles residents’ changing care needs. Another question to ask is, “When is this community no longer a good option for me?”
Get on a community’s waitlist as soon as you’re sure you want to move there. Don’t wait, as some communities have long waiting lists and you want to be ready to move when a spot opens up.
Sometimes there’s a small fee for a community’s waitlist, but this is not always the case. If there is a fee, it will typically go towards your deposit or entrance fee when it’s time to move in.
A Place for Mom. (2025). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Bankrate.com (2025). History of monthly mortgage payments: Comparing costs then and now.
A Place for Mom. (2025). Cost of long-term care and senior living.
US News and World Report. (2024, September 12). How much do CCRCs cost?
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