Assisted Living Facilities Grow as Demand Rises

New data reveals the state of the assisted living industry in 2024 and beyond

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:22am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a walker or medication dispenser repeated in a grid, conceptually representing the evolving assisted living industry.Assisted living communities are adapting to meet the growing needs of an aging population, though affordability remains a key challenge.Petaluma Today

The number of assisted living communities in the U.S. continues to grow, now totaling over 30,600 facilities with nearly 1.2 million licensed beds. While the supply exceeds current demand, experts expect that to change as the baby boomer population ages. Costs vary widely by state, with the most expensive assisted living found in Alaska, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Hampshire, while the most affordable is in states like Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, Kentucky and Mississippi.

Why it matters

As the senior population grows, the need for assisted living options will only increase. Understanding the current state of the industry, including costs, availability, and resident demographics, can help older adults and their families make informed decisions about the best living situation.

The details

Assisted living communities offer a range of services, from help with activities of daily living to 24-hour supervision and security. Costs are typically based on monthly rent plus additional fees for care, though some facilities include care in an all-inclusive rate. The average assisted living community has 39 licensed beds, with the largest numbers found in California, Washington, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin and Oregon.

  • The national monthly median cost of assisted living in 2023 was $4,774.
  • Over 800,000 older adults in the U.S. currently reside in an assisted living facility.
  • The median length of stay in assisted living is around 22 months.

The players

Marcy Baskin

Vice president of Senior Care Authority, an elder care consulting franchise headquartered in Petaluma, California.

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What they’re saying

“To determine assisted living availability, one needs to consider not only the number of communities, but also the number of beds they provide.”

— Marcy Baskin, Vice president of Senior Care Authority

“Since assisted living is generally a private pay [industry], it's typical for low- to middle-income families who don't have long-term care insurance to lack the financial means to pay for assisted living, which creates a greater demand for Medicaid assistance.”

— Marcy Baskin, Vice president of Senior Care Authority

The takeaway

As the senior population grows, the assisted living industry is evolving to meet increasing demand. However, affordability remains a major challenge, with Medicaid playing a crucial role in providing access to these services for lower-income older adults.