10 Best Independent Living Communities in Mason City, IA

Independent Living

If you or your loved one want the convenience of having your housekeeping managed by professionalls while living at your own pace, you might want to consider independent living. Meals, leisure activities and housekeeping responsibilities are taken care of while you are unencumbered to use your time as you choose. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to be among peers, in a community with others of similar ages and interests. Typically consisting of a private living area and a full kitchen, these communities offer homes with many of the amenities of apartment life but with none of the hassle. Guests can be invited over and entertained, and there will be more time to spend with them with the basic maintenance of daily tasks out of the way. While policies differ between communities, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. Nursing and health care services can always be arranged for with private care providers if desired. There are a number of costs and advantages to consider while determining an independent living community. It is important to learn if these services are included in the care plan: transportation, parking, Waiting list deposit, move-in fee, initial assessment fee, field trips, cable TV, and utilities. The conveniences associated with independent living include golf course, private rental hall, healthcare center, restaurant-style dining hall, laundry service, fitness center & swimming pool, transportation, and concierge services.

Cost of Living

The neighborhood in which a community is located could have a major effect on the total price. Cost of living can be a big influence when choosing which community works for you or your loved one. The median home value in Mason City is about $108,112 and the median rent is $698 per month a month. The rent burden for Mason City is around 15.0% of the average person’s monthly income.

Demographics and Values

In terms of education, 6.3% have a graduate degree, 21.0% have a college degree, and 30.8% have a high-school diploma. In Mason City, 65.4% participate in the labor force, 14.8% have some form of disability, 7.0% do not have health insurance, and 8.0% consider themselves widows. Currently, the population of Mason City consists of 26,457 people and in total the Mason City metro area has a population of 27,399. Mason City has a population density of 380 people per square mile. Based on gender, 51.9% are female and 48.1% are male. The median age of Mason City is 43 years old. Racially, the population of Mason City is 5.6% Hispanic, 1.2% Asian, 2.0% mixed race, 0.8% other or not specified, 93.4% white, 2.1% black, 0.5% Native American, and 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian. In Mason City, 9.8% of the population are veterans.

State Information

An overview of Iowa

There are 120 general hospitals and 75 health centers that provide care for 3,168,703 Iowa residents. The top three hospitals in the state are considered to be Mercy Hospital, St. Lukes Hospital, and And Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids. Iowa is ranked 14th in quality of life and 20th in healthcare. The natural beauty of Iowa is ranked 32nd in the nation. Out of a national average of 100, Iowa has a cost of living index rating of 92, a grocery index rating of 96, and a housing index rating of 80.

Social demographics of the state

In Iowa, 30% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 38. In terms of religious values, 36% of Iowa’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 5,107 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-28%, Mainline Protestant-30%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. In Iowa there are 289 masonic lodges. During the latest presidential election, 51% voted for the Republican candidate while 42% voted for the Democratic candidate. In terms of diversity, Iowa ranks 43rd in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly.

State-wide weather information

The average air quality index rating in Iowa is 41.2 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of May with a rating of around 53.8 AQI. During the summer, the average temperature in Iowa is around 72F. The average high summer temperature is around 88F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 55F in the month of June. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 22F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 40F during the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 4F in the month of January. On average, the humidity rating for Iowa is around 72%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 78%. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Iowa is around 2.93 inches. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of July at around 6.46 inches. While residents of Iowa mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Iowa can include floods and earthquakes (high).

Wildlife to be found in Iowa

The state of Iowa has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of pink lady’s slipper, twinleaf, prickly pear cactus, and cinnamon ferns. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the black wolf, the porcupine, the bison, or the elk. The state animal of Iowa is the eastern goldfinch.