10 Best Independent Living Communities in Shrewsbury, MA

Independent Living

An Independent Living Community permits residents the opportunity to live active lives while guaranteeing their care requirements have been met. Basic chores such as meal preparation and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and leisure activities is provided, allowing residents an opportunity to use their time as they wish, free from daily obligations. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy an opportunity to be among peers, surrounded by others of similar age groups and interests. Within the individual units, residents have access to a private living space and a full kitchen, and can even live with a companion if they prefer. While policies differ between communities, a number of residences allow pets as well. Nursing and health care services may always be arranged for with independent care providers if desired. There are a variety of costs and benefits to consider when selecting an independent living community. It is important to learn if these services are included in your care plan: move-in fee, field trips, Waiting list deposit, utilities, housekeeping, transportation, initial assessment fee, and internet access. The conveniences that pertain to independent living include fitness center & swimming pool, golf course, security guards, community activities, laundry service, transportation, concierge services, and beauty salon & barber shop.

Cost of Living

The community where a care community is located will have a large impact on the cost of care. The overall cost of living is a major influence when determining which destination is best for your family. Monthly, the median rent in Shrewsbury is about $1,763 and the median home value for Shrewsbury is about $393,857. The rent burden for Shrewsbury is about 16.7% of the average person’s monthly income.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total population of Shrewsbury, 68.6% participate in the labor force, 9.4% have some form of disability, 5.1% consider themselves widows, and 2.5% do not have health insurance. Out of the total city population, 50.6% are female and 49.4% are male. The median age of Shrewsbury is 41 years old. Racially, the population of Shrewsbury is 0.7% other or not specified, 4.2% mixed race, 0.1% Native American, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 3.5% black, 73.6% white, 17.9% Asian, and 5.0% Hispanic. In terms of education, 56.6% have a college degree, 17.3% have a high-school diploma, and 26.8% have a graduate degree. Shrewsbury has a population density of 683 people per square mile. Currently, the population of Shrewsbury consists of 36,716 people. In Shrewsbury, 5.9% of the population are veterans of the United States military.

State Information

An overview of Massachusetts

The state of Massachusetts has 78 hospitals and 129 health centers, providing care to a population of 6,941,273. The top three hospitals in the state are considered to be Cape Cod Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and New England Baptist Hospital. The state of Massachusetts has a cost of living index of 133.8 where a score of 100 is the national average, and anything above 100 is considered more expensive than the average. The state has a grocery index rating of 113.9 and a housing index rating of 170.3. Overall, Massachusetts ranks 8th out of all states in quality of life and 2nd in healthcare. The natural beauty of Massachusetts is ranked 26th in the nation.

Social demographics of the state

The state of Massachusetts ranks 16th in the country for diversity and the state is considered very LGBTQ friendly. In Massachusetts, 30% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 39. In the most recent presidential election, 33% of Massachusetts residents voted Republican and 60% voted Democrat. In Massachusetts, 23% of the population attend some form of religious service and there are 4,200 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-9%, Mainline Protestant-10%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-3%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Massachusetts there are 27 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

The average air quality index rating in Massachusetts is 38.9 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 47.5 AQI. The most precipitation occurs in May with an average of 6.10 inches of precipitation a month. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Massachusetts is around 4.04 inches. The average humidity across the state is 71%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 71% in the month of December. During the winter, the average temperature in Massachusetts drops to around 28F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 45F during the month of January. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 7F in the month of December. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 68F. The average high summer temperature is around 85F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 50F in the month of June. While residents of Massachusetts mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Massachusetts can include hurricanes, earthquakes (moderate), and and tornadoes.

Wildlife to be found in Massachusetts

The state of Massachusetts has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of American beech, eastern red cedar, American linden, and eastern hemlock. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the spotted geranium, the cardinal flower, the woodchucks, or the black bears. The state animal of Massachusetts is the woodchucks.