10 Best Independent Living Communities in Owatonna, MN

Independent Living

Independent Living Communities provide seniors with a nice balance between an independent lifestyle and not having to worry about housekeeping. Residents may continue to use their free time as they desire while their food is prepared by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are taken care of by staff, and social activities are organized and scheduled. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to be among peers, in a community with others of similar ages and backgrounds. Typically comprised of a private living space and a full kitchen, these communities offer residences with many of the amenities of apartment life but with none of the hassle. Guests can be invited over and entertained, and more time can be spent with them with the basic maintenance of daily tasks out of the way. While policies vary between communities, many residences allow pets as well. If medical or nursing care is desired, residents may always enlist the services of private care providers. There are an assortment of benefits and expenses to consider while selecting an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are included in your plan: meals, wellness program, housekeeping, initial assessment fee, internet access, field trips, cable TV, and Waiting list deposit. The luxuries associated with independent living include game/TV room, healthcare center, beauty salon & barber shop, restaurant-style dining hall, golf course, transportation, concierge services, and security guards.

Demographics and Values

Of the population of Owatonna 33.0% have a high-school diploma, 27.3% have a college degree, and 8.4% have a graduate degree. Out of the total city population, 49.4% are male and 50.6% are female. The median age of Owatonna is 39 years old. Owatonna has a population density of 685 people per square mile. The current population of Owatonna consists of 25,587 people and in total the Owatonna metro area has a population of 25,794. Out of the total population of Owatonna, 10.4% live in poverty, 6.8% are widows, 3.4% do not have health insurance, and 11.3% have some form of disability. Racially, the population of Owatonna is 4.5% black, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.5% mixed race, 7.9% Hispanic, 1.4% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 89.0% white, and 3.4% other or not specified. In Owatonna, 9.0% of the population are veterans of the United States military.

Cost of Living

The overall cost of living is a big influence when selecting which facility works for your loved one’s needs. The rent burden for Owatonna is around 15.9% of the average person’s monthly income. Monthly, the median price for rent in Owatonna is around $984 and the median home value for Owatonna is about $151,379.

State Information

An overview of Minnesota

In terms of resources, Minnesota has a cost of living index of 101.5, a grocery index rating of 106.7, and a housing index rating of 88.3. These index ratings are based on a system where 100 is considered the national average and anything above 100 is considered more expensive than said average. Based on natural beauty, Minnesota ranks 3rd in the nation. There are 140 hospitals and 61 health centers that service a population of 5,654,535. 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 quality of life enjoyed by the average Minnesota citizen is ranked 3rd nation-wide. Additionally, Minnesota is ranked 10th by healthcare standards.

Social demographics of the state

The state has a median age of 38 and 29% of its population being over the age of 55. During the latest presidential election, 45% voted for the Republican candidate while 46% voted for the Democratic candidate. In Minnesota, 34% of the population attend some form of religious service and there are 5,953 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-19%, Mainline Protestant-29%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Minnesota there are 170 masonic lodges. The state of Minnesota ranks 27th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly.

State-wide weather information

The average air quality index rating in Minnesota is 34.5 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of May with a rating of around 42.7 AQI. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 67F. The average high summer temperature is around 86F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 42F in the month of June. During the winter, the average temperature in Minnesota drops to around 13F. The average high winter temperature is around 33F in the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around -11F during the month of January. Minnesota experiences an average humidity rating of about 70%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 80%. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of June at around 5.59 inches. On average, the state receives 2.37 inches of precipitation a month. 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, balsam fir, mountain ash, and pin cherry. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the eastern phoebe, the red-winged blackbird, the common loons, or the horned lark. The state animal of Minnesota is the eastern timber wolf.