5 Best Independent Living Communities in Niceville, FL

Independent Living

For those who would prefer to live primarily without assistance but would like the benefit of having chores and housekeeping taken care of by professionalls, an Independent Living Community may be the perfect fit. Occupants can live their lives as they desire while their food is prepared by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are taken care of by staff, and recreational activities are scheduled and organized. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to live among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and interests. Typically consisting of a private living area and a full kitchen, these communities offer residences with many of the amenities of apartment life but with none of the hassle. Guests can be invited over and entertained, and more time can be spent with them with the basic maintenance of daily chores out of the way. While policies vary between locations, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. If medical or nursing care is desired, residents may always utilize the services of independent care providers. There are a number of benefits and expenditures to balance when choosing an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are included in the plan: field trips, meals, private phone, housekeeping, transportation, utilities, initial assessment fee, and internet access. The benefits and amenities associated with independent living include healthcare center, laundry service, security guards, beauty salon & barber shop, game/TV room, community activities, transportation, and golf course.

Demographics and Values

Racially, the population of Niceville is 10.7% black, 4.9% mixed race, 80.0% white, 3.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% other or not specified, and 4.9% Hispanic. The total population of Niceville consists of 15,249 people. Niceville has a population density of 436 people per square mile. Out of the total city population, 49.4% are male and 50.6% are female. The median age of Niceville is 39 years old. In Niceville, 68.0% participate in the labor force, 4.7% are widows, 10.4% do not have health insurance, and 14.1% have some form of disability. Of the population of Niceville 32.9% have a college degree, 22.3% have a high-school diploma, and 13.4% have a graduate degree. In Niceville, 27.8% of the population are veterans of the United States military.

Cost of Living

The overall cost of living is a major influence in determining which care choice works for you or your loved one. The rent burden for Niceville is about 16.9% of the average person’s monthly income. Niceville has a median home value of $211,224 and the median cost of rent is about $1,114 per month.

State Information

An overview of Florida

In terms of resources, Florida has a cost of living index of 98.9, a grocery index rating of 104.0, and a housing index rating of 95.4. 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. There are 218 general hospitals and 108 health centers that provide care for 21,626,797 Florida residents. The three highest ranked hospitals in Florida are St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and Jupiter Medical Center. Overall, Florida ranks 13th out of all states in quality of life and 29th in healthcare. Based on natural beauty, Florida ranks 21st in the nation.

Social demographics of the state

In the last presidential election 48% of Florida residents voted Democrat and 49% voted Republican. In terms of religious values, 35% of Florida’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 15,611 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-3%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-24%, Mainline Protestant-14%, and Historically Black Protestant-8%. In Florida there are 290 masonic lodges. In terms of diversity, Florida ranks 8th in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. In Florida, 34% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 42.

State-wide weather information

The average temperature in the winter falls to around 60F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 79F during the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 36F during the month of January. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 82F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 95F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 66F in the month of June. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Florida is around 4.54 inches. The most precipitation occurs in June with an average of 11.50 inches of precipitation a month. Florida experiences an average humidity rating of about 75%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of September at around 78%. The average air quality index rating in Florida is 37.0 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of April with a rating of 47.9 AQI. While residents of Florida mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Florida can include hurricanes and floods.

Wildlife to be found in Florida

The state of Florida has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of cypresses, blackjack, orchid, and beautyberry. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the six species of sea turtle, the diamondback rattler, the west Indian (Florida) manatee, or the swamp rabbits. The state animal of Florida is the Florida panther.