10 Best Independent Living Communities in Payson, AZ

Independent Living

For those who desire to live primarily without personal care assistance but would like the assistance of having housekeeping taken care of by professionalls, an Independent Living Community could be the perfect fit. Daily needs such as meal planning and the scheduling of social activities are accounted for, which provides residents more opportunities to live life as they see fit. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to be among peers, surrounded by others of similar ages and interests. Within the individual units, residents have access to their own private living space and a full kitchen, and can even live with a partner if they prefer. While policies differ between communities, numerous residences allow cats and dogs as well. Nursing and health care services can always be arranged for with private care providers as desired. There are a number of advantages and expenses to consider while determining an independent living community. It is important to determine if these amenities are covered in the service plan: transportation, wellness program, parking, move-in fee, utilities, laundry, meals, and private phone. The benefits and amenities that pertain to independent living include private rental hall, golf course, fitness center & swimming pool, concierge services, security guards, laundry service, community activities, and healthcare center.

Cost of Living

The overall cost of living is a big influence in selecting what destination works best. The median home value in Payson costs around $213,803 and the median rent is about $813 a month. The rent burden for Payson is around 19.1% of the average person’s monthly income.

Demographics and Values

In Payson, 12.6% do not have health insurance, 11.7% live in poverty, 23.4% have some form of disability, and 7.0% consider themselves widows. Of the population of Payson 10.7% have a graduate degree, 27.1% have a college degree, and 24.0% have a high-school diploma. Based on gender, 53.6% are female and 46.4% are male. The median age of Payson is 58 years old. Racially, the population of Payson is 91.8% white, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.2% black, 7.5% Hispanic, 0.6% Asian, 1.5% mixed race, 3.0% Native American, and 2.8% other or not specified. In Payson, 14.2% of the people are veterans of the United States armed forces. The current population of Payson consists of 14,412 people and in total the Payson metro area has a population of 15,520. Payson has a population density of 309 people per square mile.

State Information

An overview of Arizona

Arizona is ranked 34th in quality of life and 23rd in healthcare. In terms of resources, Arizona has a cost of living index of 97.7, a grocery index rating of 96.9, and a housing index rating of 91.7. These index ratings are based on a system where 100 is considered the national average and anything below 100 is considered less expensive than the national average. The natural beauty of Arizona is ranked 33rd in the nation. There are 96 hospitals and 153 health centers that service a population of 7,296,554. Verde Valley Medical Center, Flagstaff Medical Center, and Mayo Clinic Hospital are among the top three highest ranked hospitals in the state.

Social demographics of the state

In Arizona, 34% of the population attend some form of religious service and there are 4,673 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-26%, Mainline Protestant-12%, and Historically Black Protestant-1%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-2%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Arizona there are 67 masonic lodges. In Arizona, 30% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 38. During the latest presidential election, 49% voted for the Republican candidate while 45% voted for the Democratic candidate. The state of Arizona ranks 11th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly.

State-wide weather information

The average air quality index rating in Arizona is 49.9 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of April with a rating of around 65.5 AQI. On average, the state receives 1.04 inches of precipitation a month. The most precipitation occurs in July with an average of 4.92 inches of precipitation a month. The average humidity across the state is 39%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 61% in the month of January. During the winter, the average temperature in Arizona drops to around 46F. The average high winter temperature is around 75F in the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 11F during the month of December. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 81F. The average high summer temperature is around 112F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 34F in the month of June. While residents of Arizona mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Arizona can include earthquakes (moderate) and floods.

Wildlife to be found in Arizona

The state of Arizona has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of spruce, pinon, desert flowers, and ponderosa pine. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the coyote, the black-tailed jackrabbit, the chuckwalla, or the black and brown bears. The state animal of Arizona is the the ringtail cat.