10 Best Independent Living Communities in Lawrence, KS

Independent Living

If you would like the peace of mind of having many of your frequent tasks handled by professionalls while living your life at your own pace, you might want to consider independent living. Residents may live their lives as they see fit while their meals are prepared by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are taken care of by staff, and social activities are scheduled and organized. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to be among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and backgrounds. Residents’ quarters consist of private living spaces, each with their own kitchen. The independence of apartment life is still enjoyed, offering an opportunity to socialize with guests and visitors in a private and personal setting. While policies differ between locations, a number of residences allow cats and dogs as well. If medical or nursing assistance is desired, residents may always enlist the services of independent care providers. There are an assortment of expenses and benefits to keep in mind when determining an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these amenities are covered in the care plan: Waiting list deposit, internet access, move-in fee, housekeeping, private phone, initial assessment fee, wellness program, and utilities. The benefits that pertain to independent living include laundry service, security guards, fitness center & swimming pool, restaurant-style dining hall, golf course, transportation, beauty salon & barber shop, and private rental hall.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be a major factor in determining what community meets the needs of your loved one. Lawrence has a median home value of about $183,412 and the median cost of rent is around $1,148 per month per month. The rent burden for Lawrence is about 16.4% of the average person’s monthly income. Lawrence has a sales tax of 6.50%.

Local Hospitals and Health Care Providers

For many seniors, especially those who live with chronic illnesses or those who are in need of continuing care, access to medical communities is a major component when choosing what type of care best suits you or your family’s needs. The top hospitals that service Lawrence include Lawrence Memorial Hospital. In total, there is one hospital located in Lawrence which offer emergency services and other healthcare.

Regional Climate and Weather Information

Weather and climate, particularly humidity and air quality, is a major influence in determining which location is the right fit for your family. On average, the air quality index rating in Lawrence is about 35.7. The average air quality conditions are rated as good. This means that there is no health advisory associated with the air quality for this destination. The air quality index score is at its max in May at approximately 55.3. During this time, the average air quality conditions are rated moderate. This means that those who are unusually sensitive should consider limiting the amount of time spent on outdoor exertion. During the summer months, Lawrence is around 78F. The summer high peaks at approximately 91F during the month of July. The low summer temperature falls to around 65F during the month of June. In the wintertime, the average air temperature in Lawrence sinks to approximately 33F. The high winter temperature is roughly 46F in the month of February. The lowest winter temperature is about 18 F in the month of January. Lawrence has a hot-summer humid continental type of climate. On average, Lawrence has a humidity rating of around 59%. Humidity levels reach their peak during the month of December at about 65%. Monthly, Lawrence receives about 3 inches of precipitation. The most precipitation usually falls in May with an average of 5 inches in a month. For snowfall, Lawrence gets an average of 13.00 inches of snow.

Demographics and Values

In terms of Christian denominations, out of the total population of Lawrence 8.5% practice Catholicism, 7.0% practice another Christian faith, and 4.7% are Methodists. In Lawrence, 68.3% are nonbelievers. In terms of non-Christian denominations in Lawrence, out of the total population 0.0% practice Judaism, 0.3% practice an Eastern religion, and 0.3% practice Islam. Racially, the population of Lawrence is 1.3% other or not specified, 2.5% Native American, 5.0% mixed race, 80.8% white, 4.5% black, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 6.6% Hispanic, and 5.9% Asian. Of the population of Lawrence 53.4% have a college degree, 26.4% have a graduate degree, and 15.8% have a high-school diploma. During the last presidential election, 29.3% voted Republican, 62.3% voted Democrat, and 8.4% voted for a third party candidate in Douglas county. Out of the total population of Lawrence, 3.7% consider themselves widows, 10.6% have some form of disability, 9.2% do not have health insurance, and 21.8% live in poverty. Out of the total city population, 50.7% are female and 49.3% are male. The median age of Lawrence is 28 years old. In Lawrence, 18.2% of the population are over the age of 55, 7.4% are over the age of 60, 4.4% are over the age of 70, and 2.4% are over the age of 80. The current population of Lawrence is growing at a rate of 0.006%. Lawrence has a population density of 1,095 people per square mile. In terms of crime, Lawrence has 2.7 violent crimes per 1000 residents and 27.5 property crimes per 1000 residents. In Lawrence, 4.7% of the population are veterans. Lawrence is considered friendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community.

State Information

An overview of Kansas

Kansas is ranked 22nd in quality of life and 33rd in healthcare. There are 144 general hospitals and 75 health centers that provide care for 2,912,321 Kansas residents. The three highest ranked hospitals in Kansas are University Of Kansas Hospital, Newton Medical Center, and Providence Medical Center. Out of a national average of 100, Kansas has a cost of living index rating of 90, a grocery index rating of 92, and a housing index rating of 74. The natural beauty of Kansas is ranked 8th in the nation.

Social demographics of the state

In terms of diversity, Kansas ranks 25th in the nation and is considered LGBTQ friendly. In the last presidential election 36% of Kansas residents voted Democrat and 57% voted Republican. The state has a median age of 37 and 29% of its population being over the age of 55. In terms of religious values, 37% of Kansas’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 4,782 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-31%, Mainline Protestant-24%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. In Kansas there are 279 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

On average, Kansas has an air quality index rating of around 36.0 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of July with a rating of around 46.4 AQI. The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.73 inches of precipitation a month. On average, the state receives 2.55 inches of precipitation a month. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 32F. The average high winter temperature is around 53F in the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 12F during the month of January. During the summer, the average temperature in Kansas is around 76F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 95F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 54F in the month of June. Kansas experiences an average humidity rating of about 66%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 72% in the month of December. While residents of Kansas mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Kansas can include tornadoes, floods, and and earthquakes (high).

Wildlife to be found in Kansas

The state of Kansas has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of eastern red cedar, Siberian elm, moonseed, and pawpaw. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the woodchuck, the skink, the muskrat, or the prairie dog. The state animal of Kansas is the American buffalo.