Assisted living statistics (2026): costs, residents and moves
This page collects the latest national numbers on assisted living. It covers what assisted living costs in each state, who lives there, how long people stay and who pays. Each figure names the year it describes and links to the official or primary source it comes from.
In 2025, the national median cost of assisted living was $6,200 a month, or $74,400 a year, for a private one-bedroom, according to CareScout [1]. State medians ranged from $4,369 in Mississippi to $12,096 in Hawaii [3]. About 1 million people lived in about 31,400 assisted living and similar communities that year [5]. As of March 2025, Medicaid in 44 states covered assisted living services, but not room and board [10].
Key facts
- The national median cost of assisted living was $6,200 a month, or $74,400 a year, in 2025, up 5% from 2024. (CareScout, 2026)
- Hawaii had the highest state median for assisted living in 2025, at $12,096 a month, and Mississippi had the lowest, at $4,369 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- On a given day in 2025, about 1 million residents lived in about 31,400 assisted living and other residential care communities in the United States. (CDC NCHS, 2026)
- In 2025, 45.6% of residents in these communities were 85 or older, and 36.7% had been diagnosed with Alzheimer disease or another dementia. (CDC NCHS, 2026)
- As of March 2025, 44 state Medicaid programs covered assisted living services, and 29 of them did so through home- and community-based services waivers. (U.S. GAO, 2026)
The figures come from three kinds of sources. Costs come from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey. Counts of communities and residents come from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Medicaid and Medicare figures come from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Each number in brackets links to its source at the bottom of the page.
How much does assisted living cost nationally?
The national median for assisted living was $6,200 a month in 2025, or $74,400 a year [1]. That is the median private-pay rate for a private one-bedroom apartment. CareScout reports that it rose 5% from 2024 [1]. Surveyors gathered the rates from July through November 2025. They completed 4,944 surveys with licensed assisted living communities [4].
The same survey also prices other kinds of long-term care. The table puts them side by side [2].
| Type of care (2025) | Monthly median | Annual median | How the annual figure is counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted living community, private one-bedroom | $6,200 | $74,400 | Monthly rate times 12 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $9,581 | $114,975 | Daily rate times 365 |
| Nursing home, private room | $10,798 | $129,575 | Daily rate times 365 |
| Non-medical caregiver at home, 44 hours a week | $6,673 | $80,080 | Hourly rate times 44 hours times 52 weeks |
| Adult day health care, 5 days a week | $2,058 | $24,700 | Daily rate times 5 days times 52 weeks |
Worked out from the table, a semi-private nursing home room cost $3,381 a month more than assisted living at the national median. The assisted living median also leaves a few things out. It is a private-pay rate, before any help from Medicaid or insurance. When a community gave a range of rates, the survey used the midpoint [4]. The survey recorded separately whether a community charges a one-time community fee [4]. The tables have no separate figure for memory care [2]. What the monthly price usually covers is explained in how much assisted living costs.
Which states have the highest and lowest assisted living costs?
Hawaii had the highest state median in 2025, at $12,096 a month. Mississippi had the lowest, at $4,369 a month [3]. That makes Hawaii's median about 2.8 times Mississippi's, a gap of $7,727 a month. By our count from the same table, 26 states were above the $6,200 national median and 24 were below it.
The table shows the 10 most and the 10 least expensive states. Rank 1 is the most expensive. The last column is the difference from the national median, worked out from CareScout's figures [3].
| Rank | State | Monthly median (2025) | Annual median (2025) | vs. national median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (national) | $6,200 | $74,400 | same | |
| 10 most expensive states | ||||
| 1 | Hawaii | $12,096 | $145,155 | +$5,896 |
| 2 | Alaska | $9,882 | $118,578 | +$3,682 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $9,600 | $115,200 | +$3,400 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $9,118 | $109,410 | +$2,918 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $8,710 | $104,520 | +$2,510 |
| 6 | Vermont | $8,597 | $103,167 | +$2,397 |
| 7 | Maine | $8,205 | $98,460 | +$2,005 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $8,025 | $96,300 | +$1,825 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $7,780 | $93,366 | +$1,580 |
| 10 (tie) | Washington | $7,600 | $91,200 | +$1,400 |
| 10 (tie) | Delaware | $7,600 | $91,200 | +$1,400 |
| 10 least expensive states | ||||
| 50 | Mississippi | $4,369 | $52,425 | −$1,831 |
| 49 | Alabama | $4,425 | $53,100 | −$1,775 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $4,637 | $55,644 | −$1,563 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $4,729 | $56,745 | −$1,471 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $4,900 | $58,800 | −$1,300 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $5,162 | $61,950 | −$1,038 |
| 44 | Idaho | $5,175 | $62,100 | −$1,025 |
| 43 | Georgia | $5,300 | $63,600 | −$900 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $5,325 | $63,900 | −$875 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $5,350 | $64,200 | −$850 |
Washington and Delaware have the same median, $7,600 a month. CareScout lists Washington 10th and Delaware 11th [3]. The published state table covers the 50 states and has no row for Washington, DC. A state median also blends cities and rural areas, so prices in one metro area can sit well above or below it.
Every state's median, with that state's licensing rules, is on assisted living rules and costs in all 50 states. The full 50-state table and how to read it are in assisted living costs by state.
Download the data (CSV). It lists all 50 states and the national median, monthly and annual, with the difference from the national median and the source on every row.
Who lives in assisted living?
On a given day in 2025, about 1 million residents lived in about 31,400 residential care communities [5]. NCHS counts them in its National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study. The count includes assisted living and similar places, such as personal care homes, adult care homes, board and care homes and adult foster care. To be counted, a place must be regulated by the state and have at least four beds. It must also offer at least two meals a day, supervision on site around the clock, and help with personal care or health care [5].
Many of these communities are small. In 2025, 42.1% had 4 to 10 beds, and 11.6% had more than 100 [6]. Most residents were women, and almost half were 85 or older. The table shows the 2025 estimates [6].
| Measure (2025) | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Residential care communities | 31,415 |
| Licensed, registered or certified beds | 1,297,134 |
| Current residents | 1,001,118 |
| Residents aged 85 or older | 45.6% |
| Residents aged 75 to 84 | 33.6% |
| Residents aged 65 to 74 | 14.6% |
| Residents younger than 65 | 6.3% |
| Residents who are women | 66.8% |
| Residents diagnosed with Alzheimer disease or another dementia | 36.7% |
| Residents who need help with bathing or showering | 58.6% |
| Residents who need help with walking | 52.8% |
| Residents who need help with dressing | 48.4% |
| Residents who need help using the bathroom | 42.5% |
| Residents who need help getting in and out of a bed or chair | 34.0% |
| Residents who need help with eating | 19.5% |
| Communities that serve only people with dementia | 10.8% |
| Communities with a separate dementia or memory care unit, wing or floor | 19.9% |
| Communities run for profit | 80.1% |
In this survey, help means any help or supervision from another person, or the use of assistive devices. For walking, that includes a cane, walker or wheelchair [6]. Bathing, dressing, walking and the others on the list are activities of daily living. Each 2025 figure comes from what a community reported about its current residents. The 2022 NCHS report used a sample of individual residents instead [7], so compare the two years with care.
How long do people stay in assisted living, and why do they move?
The newest federal figure on length of stay that we found is from 2010. That year, current residents had lived in their community for a median of 671 days, or about 22 months [8]. It measures time so far, not the full stay, because these residents still lived there.
A national survey for the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) followed residents in 1998. About 24% left their community over 12 months. Needing more care was the most common reason [9]. Newer data cover hospital trips and falls. In 2025, 15.1% of residents had been treated in a hospital emergency department in the previous 90 days [6].
| Measure | Figure | Year of data | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median time current residents had lived in their community | 671 days (about 22 months) | 2010 | [8] |
| Residents who left their community over 12 months | About 24% | 1998 | [9] |
| Residents who moved to a nursing home, per year | 8% | 1998 | [9] |
| Residents who moved to another residential care setting, per year | 4% | 1998 | [9] |
| Residents who left and had died, in the community or elsewhere | About one-third of those who left | 1998 | [9] |
| Most common reason for leaving | Needing more care | 1998 | [9] |
| Residents treated in a hospital emergency department in the last 90 days | 15.1% | 2025 | [6] |
| Residents discharged from an overnight hospital stay in the last 90 days | 10.1% | 2025 | [6] |
| Residents who had a fall in the last 90 days | 22.8% | 2025 | [6] |
NCHS notes that some communities may have counted visits or stays instead of people. So one resident may be counted twice [6]. The 2010 and 1998 figures are the newest federal estimates on stays and move-outs that we found. More detail on stays is in how long people live in assisted living.
Who pays for assisted living, and what does Medicaid cover?
Most assisted living residents pay out of pocket, according to the GAO [10]. As of March 2025, 44 state Medicaid programs covered assisted living services for older adults and people with disabilities. Of those, 29 used home- and community-based services (HCBS) waivers, which let a state limit how many people it serves. The other 15 used other parts of Medicaid, such as state plan services [10]. Medicaid programs are not allowed to pay for room and board, meaning housing, utilities and meals [10].
| Measure | Figure | Year of data | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Medicaid programs that covered assisted living services | 44 | March 2025 | [10] |
| Of those, states using HCBS waivers | 29 | March 2025 | [10] |
| People the 29 waiver states expected to get assisted living services each year | About 174,000 | As of March 2025 | [10] |
| Medicaid beneficiaries who got services in assisted living facilities | About 300,000 | 2024 | [10] |
| Federal Medicaid spending on services in assisted living facilities | At least $3.5 billion | 2024 | [10] |
| Federal and state Medicaid spending on those services combined | At least $6.2 billion | 2024 | [10] |
| Average federal and state Medicaid spending per beneficiary | About $23,000 | 2024 | [10] |
| Residents whose long-term care services Medicaid paid for, in part or in full, in the last 30 days | 16.9% (about 166,383 people) | 2025 | [6] |
| Communities set up to take part in Medicaid | 48.0% | 2025 | [6] |
| Traditional Medicare spending on services in assisted living facilities | $8.5 billion, for about 829,000 people | 2024 | [10] |
Medicare generally does not cover assisted living services. It may pay for other care a resident gets there, such as hospice [10]. About 89% of the traditional Medicare spending GAO found for 2024 was for hospice and home health, and hospice alone was $6.1 billion [10]. GAO says its spending totals are likely too low. The data don't always show which places are assisted living [10].
States also differ in who qualifies and in how many people a waiver serves [10]. More on this is in does Medicaid pay for assisted living and how families pay for assisted living.
How to cite this page
Suggested citation: Parent Move Plan, "Assisted living statistics (2026)", parentmoveplan.com/guides/assisted-living-statistics/, accessed [date].
Each figure here comes from the original source listed below. When you quote a number, please name that source and its year as well. Figures last checked November 4, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does assisted living cost per month?
The national median cost of assisted living was $6,200 a month, or $74,400 a year, in the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025. It is the median private-pay rate for a private one-bedroom, collected from July through November 2025. It was 5% higher than in 2024.
Which state has the most expensive assisted living, and which is the cheapest?
Hawaii had the highest state median in 2025 at $12,096 a month, followed by Alaska at $9,882 and Massachusetts at $9,600. Mississippi had the lowest at $4,369 a month, followed by Alabama at $4,425 and Arkansas at $4,637. These are CareScout's 2025 state medians for a private one-bedroom.
How many people live in assisted living in the United States?
About 1 million people lived in about 31,400 residential care communities on a given day in 2025, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. The count includes assisted living and similar places, such as personal care homes and board and care homes, with at least four beds. The detailed 2025 estimates put it at 1,001,118 residents in 31,415 communities.
What percentage of assisted living residents have dementia?
In the CDC's 2025 estimates, 36.7% of residents in assisted living and similar residential care communities had been diagnosed with Alzheimer disease or another dementia. That year, 10.8% of these communities served only people with dementia, and 19.9% had a separate dementia or memory care unit, wing or floor.
How long do people stay in assisted living?
The latest federal figure is from 2010, when current residents had lived in their community for a median of 671 days, or about 22 months. A national survey from 1998, published by HHS in 2000, found that about 24% of residents left their community over 12 months, most often because they needed more care. We did not find a newer federal estimate of length of stay.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living?
Medicaid programs in 44 states covered assisted living services as of March 2025, according to a 2026 GAO report. Of those, 29 used home- and community-based services waivers, which let a state limit how many people it serves. Medicaid is not allowed to pay for room and board, meaning housing, utilities and meals. In the CDC's 2025 estimates, Medicaid paid for some or all of the long-term care services of 16.9% of residents in the previous 30 days.
Related: how much assisted living costs, assisted living costs by state, does Medicaid pay for assisted living and how families pay for assisted living.
Sources
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025 (2026, accessed Nov 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Median Cost Data Tables (2026, accessed Nov 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026, accessed Nov 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Methodology (2026, accessed Nov 2026)
- CDC NCHS: Chronic Conditions in Residential Care Communities: United States, 2025, NCHS Data Brief No. 574 (2026, accessed Nov 2026)
- CDC NCHS: National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study 2025, Residential Care Component, Weighted National Estimates and Standard Errors (2026, accessed Nov 2026)
- CDC NCHS: Residential Care Community Resident Characteristics: United States, 2022, NCHS Data Brief No. 506 (2024, accessed Nov 2026)
- CDC NCHS: Residents Living in Residential Care Facilities: United States, 2010, NCHS Data Brief No. 91 (2012, accessed Nov 2026)
- HHS ASPE: Residents Leaving Assisted Living: Descriptive and Analytic Results from a National Survey (2000, accessed Nov 2026)
- U.S. GAO: Assisted Living Facilities, Information on Federal Spending and Medicaid Coverage (GAO-26-107884) (2026, accessed Nov 2026)
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