10 Best Independent Living Communities in Highland Park, IL

Independent Living

For many seniors, cost of owning a home and the maintenance of the property might deter them from an independent life. Independent Living Communities offer a solid solution to this situation. Basic needs such as meal planning and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and social activities is maintained, allowing residents an opportunity to use their time as they choose, free from daily obligations. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to live among peers, surrounded by others of similar age groups 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 choose. While policies differ between communities, numerous residences allow pets as well. Nursing and health care services may always be arranged for with private care providers as desired. There are a variety of expenditures and benefits to keep in mind while deciding on an independent living community. It is important to determine if these amenities are covered in your service plan: housekeeping, cable TV, parking, move-in fee, meals, Waiting list deposit, private phone, and field trips. The benefits and amenities associated with independent living include game/TV room, fitness center & swimming pool, healthcare center, security guards, restaurant-style dining hall, concierge services, community activities, and laundry service.

Demographics and Values

Demographically, Highland Park is 92.2% white, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.7% mixed race, 1.5% black, 8.4% Hispanic, 0.1% Native American, 1.8% other or not specified, and 2.7% Asian. In Highland Park, 63.0% participate in the labor force, 6.5% live in poverty, 6.1% are widowed, and 3.5% do not have health insurance. Of the population of Highland Park 9.2% have a high-school diploma, 38.3% have a graduate degree, and 72.0% have a college degree. Out of the total city population, 48.4% are male and 51.6% are female. The median age of Highland Park is 46 years old. Highland Park has a population density of 938 people per square mile. Currently, the population of Highland Park consists of 29,767 people. In Highland Park, 5.8% of the citizens are veterans of the United States military.

Cost of Living

The total cost of care for a community is influenced by the city in which it is located. The rent burden for Highland Park is around 20.3% of the average person’s monthly income. Highland Park has a median home value of around $572,621 and the median cost of rent is about $2,657 per month.

State Information

An overview of Illinois

The quality of life enjoyed by the average Illinois citizen is ranked 35th nation-wide. Additionally, Illinois is ranked 22nd by healthcare standards. The state of Illinois has a cost of living index of 95.7 where a score of 100 is the national average, and anything below 100 is considered less expensive than the national average. The state has a grocery index rating of 94.2 and a housing index rating of 87.2. The natural beauty of Illinois is ranked 43rd in the nation. There are 199 hospitals and 383 health centers that service a population of 12,696,123. The three highest ranked hospitals in Illinois are Sherman Hospital, Sam Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia, and And Midwestern Region Medical Center.

Social demographics of the state

The median age in the state is 38, and 29% of the population is over the age of 55. In terms of diversity, Illinois ranks 10th in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. During the latest presidential election, 39% voted for the Republican candidate while 56% voted for the Democratic candidate. In terms of religious values, 34% of Illinois’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 12,453 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-20%, Mainline Protestant-16%, and Historically Black Protestant-7%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-2%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Illinois there are 518 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

The average temperature in the winter falls to around 28F. The average high winter temperature is around 49F in the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 10F in the month of January. During the summer, the average temperature in Illinois is around 73F. The average high summer temperature is around 91F in the month of July. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 53F during the month of June. On average, the humidity rating for Illinois is around 71%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 78% in the month of December. On average, Illinois has an air quality index rating of around 37.7 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 54.5 AQI. On average, the state receives 3.33 inches of precipitation a month. The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.02 inches of precipitation a month. While residents of Illinois mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Illinois can include floods, earthquakes (moderate), and and tornadoes.

Wildlife to be found in Illinois

The state of Illinois has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of bird’s foot violet, aromatic aster, viola pedata, and black snakeroot. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the American black bear, the eastern red bat, the coyote, or the big brown bat. The state animal of Illinois is the white-tailed deer.