10 Best Independent Living Communities in Buffalo, MN

Independent Living

An Independent Living Community allows residents the choice to live an active life while ensuring their care requirements have been fulfilled. Food preparation, recreational activities and housekeeping responsibilities are handled while you are free to use your time as you desire. 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. 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 communities, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. If medical or nursing assistance is desired, residents may always utilize the services of private health care professionalls. There are a number of expenditures and advantages to balance when deciding on an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are included in the care plan: laundry, meals, housekeeping, move-in fee, transportation, field trips, utilities, and internet access. The conveniences associated with independent living include community activities, restaurant-style dining hall, laundry service, healthcare center, fitness center & swimming pool, transportation, game/TV room, and beauty salon & barber shop.

Cost of Living

The community in which a care community is based could have a major impact on the total cost. The overall cost of living can be a big influence in selecting which care choice meets the needs of your loved one. The rent burden for Buffalo is about 17.9% of the average person’s monthly income. Buffalo has a median home value of $183,890 and the median cost of rent is $1,194 per month.

Demographics and Values

Buffalo has a population density of 863 people per square mile. Based on gender, 48.7% are male and 51.3% are female. The median age of Buffalo is 34 years old. Demographically, Buffalo is 0.0% other or not specified, 0.4% mixed race, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.8% black, 1.4% Hispanic, 0.1% Native American, 97.4% white, and 1.3% Asian. In terms of education, 28.3% have a high-school diploma, 27.1% have a college degree, and 5.8% have a graduate degree. In Buffalo, 8.2% of the people are veterans of the United States armed forces. In Buffalo, 5.1% do not have health insurance, 12.3% have some form of disability, 70.8% participate in the labor force, and 9.7% live in poverty.

State Information

An overview of Minnesota

The state of Minnesota has a cost of living index of 101.5 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 106.7 and a housing index rating of 88.3. The quality of life enjoyed by the average Minnesota citizen is ranked 3rd nation-wide. Additionally, Minnesota is ranked 10th by standards of healthcare. There are 140 general hospitals and 61 health centers that provide care for 5,654,535 Minnesota residents. The top three hospitals in the state are considered to be Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Mayo Clinic Health System – Red Wing, and Alomere Health. The natural beauty of Minnesota is ranked 3rd in the nation.

Social demographics of the state

The state of Minnesota ranks 27th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly. In the most recent presidential election, 45% of Minnesota residents voted Republican and 46% voted Democrat. In Minnesota, 29% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 38. Thirty-four percent of Minnesota residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 5,953 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-19%, Mainline Protestant-29%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. In Minnesota there are 170 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

On average, Minnesota has an air quality index rating of around 34.5 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 42.7 AQI. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Minnesota is around 2.37 inches. The most precipitation occurs in June with an average of 5.59 inches of precipitation a month. The average humidity across the state is 70%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 80% in the month of December. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 67F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 86F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 42F in the month of June. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 13F. The average high winter temperature is around 33F in the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around -11F in the month of January. While residents of Minnesota mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Minnesota can include floods and earthquakes (high).

Wildlife to be found in Minnesota

The state of Minnesota has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of paper, river, and yellow birch, tamarack, hemlock, and black cherry. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the American kestrel, the eastern phoebe, the black bears, or the trumpeter swans. The state animal of Minnesota is the eastern timber wolf.