Independent Living in Minnesota

Minnesota Independent Living Regulations

Each state regulates senior living communities differently. Because independent living is often provided by assisted living communities, states may regulate independent living within their guidelines for assisted living. You can use APFM’s guide to assisted living regulations to learn more about access to facility records in Minnesota.

In Minnesota, independent living communities — also known simply as retirement communities — are geared towards seniors who are able to live on their own, without daily assistance, and prefer to live among people their age. This usually means residents are self-sufficient and do not require hands-on care. Think of independent living communities as age-restricted (typically 55+) complexes, which provide organized activities, meal services, and transportation.

Cost of Living

Overall, the cost of living in Minnesota is considered to be slightly less affordable than the national average. This is because the state has a relatively high grocery cost index due to much of the population living in rural areas. The region’s primary industry is agriculture, with the state producing large amounts of corn, soybeans, and dairy products. Minnesota used to be the largest producer of iron ore in the United States, however many of the mines located in the Iron Range have closed, and the state has switched much of its focus to clean and renewable energy production such as hydroelectric power and biofuels. Minnesota has a very large retail industry and is home to several major corporations as well as one of the largest shopping malls in the world, the Mall of America. The following index scores are based on a scale with the national average set at 100.

Price Indexes

• Cost of Living: 102
• Groceries: 107
• Housing: 88
• Utilities: 97
• Transportation: 104

Demographics

About 15% of Minnesota’s population are seniors. In the 2016 presidential election, Minnesota leaned slightly liberal. The more left-leaning parts of the state are located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, known locally as the Twin Cities. The rest of the state is quite rural and tends to vote conservative.

2016 Presidential Election

• 46% voted Democratic
• 45% voted Republican
• 9% voted third party

Population

• Median age: 38
• Over the age of 55: 29%
• 2018 population: 5,611,179
• 2020 population: 5,698,227
• Estimated 2025 population: 5,921,800

Miscellaneous

• 34% regularly attend a religious service
• 44% consider themselves atheist, agnostic, or a non-believer
• The state has a total of 5,953 congregations
• There are 170 Masonic lodges in the state

Climate and Weather

Minnesota is classified as having a continental type of climate. The state experiences the widest temperature fluctuations in the continental United States, with the summer temperatures reaching above 100 F, and winter temperatures dropping as low as -25 F before wind chill is even calculated. Minnesota also receives high volumes of snow and rainfall, and the state experiences thunderstorms and tornadoes, especially during the summer. Minnesota has one of the largest concentrations of freshwater in the United States, and is known for having over 10,000 lakes, including Lake Superior – the largest freshwater lake in the country by surface area. The headwaters of the Mississippi river are also located in northern Minnesota and run all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Humidity and Precipitation

• Average humidity level: 70%
• Average monthly precipitation: 2”
• Average maximum monthly precipitation: 6” (June)

Air Quality

• Average air quality index rating: 34 (Good)
• Average maximum air quality rating: 43 in May (Good)

Seasonal Temperatures

• Average temperature: 42°F
• Average summer temperature: 67°F
• Typical summer high: 86°F (July)
• Typical summer low: 42°F (June)
• Average winter temperature: 13°F
• Typical winter high: 33°F (February)
• Typical winter low: -11°F (January)