6 Best Independent Living Communities in Sandstone, MN

Independent Living

For those who wish to live primarily without assistance but would like the assistance of having chores and housekeeping handled by professionalls, an Independent Living Community could be the perfect fit. Daily needs such as meal planning and the scheduling of social activities are accounted for, which provides occupants more free time to live their lives as they desire. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to be among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and backgrounds. Typically consisting of a private living area and a full kitchen, these communities offer residences with many of the amenities of apartment life but without the hassle. Guests can be invited over and entertained, and more time can be spent with them with the basic maintenance of daily chores out of the way. While policies differ between locations, numerous residences allow cats and dogs as well. Nursing and health care services may always be arranged for with private care providers if desired. There are a number of benefits and costs to keep in mind while determining an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these amenities are included in your plan: housekeeping, field trips, initial assessment fee, cable TV, utilities, move-in fee, private phone, and laundry. The benefits associated with independent living include transportation, healthcare center, game/TV room, laundry service, community activities, restaurant-style dining hall, fitness center & swimming pool, and golf course.

Demographics and Values

In Sandstone, 6.8% of the population are veterans of the United States armed forces. Out of the total population of Sandstone, 29.0% participate in the labor force, 6.6% are widows, 21.4% live in poverty, and 22.9% have some form of disability. Sandstone has a population density of 192 people per square mile. The total population of Sandstone consists of 2,631 people. In terms of education, 8.9% have a college degree, 50.5% have a high-school diploma, and 2.2% have a graduate degree. Demographically, Sandstone is 4.4% Native American, 8.6% Hispanic, 3.7% mixed race, 2.5% other or not specified, 13.9% black, 0.5% Asian, 74.4% white, and 0.6% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian. Based on gender, 72.0% are male and 28.0% are female. The median age of Sandstone is 40 years old.

Cost of Living

The overall cost of living is a big influence in deciding which community works for your family. Sandstone has a median home value of about $77,611 and the median cost of rent is $692 per month. The rent burden for Sandstone is around 18.0% of the average monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Minnesota

In terms of personal well-being, Minnesota ranks 10th in healthcare and 3rd in quality of life compared to other states. 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. There are 140 general hospitals and 61 health centers that provide care for 5,654,535 Minnesota residents. The three highest ranked hospitals in Minnesota are 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. The median age in the state is 38, and 29% of the population is over the age of 55. Thirty-four percent of Minnesota residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 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. In the last presidential election 46% of Minnesota residents voted Democrat and 45% voted Republican.

State-wide weather information

The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of June at around 5.59 inches. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Minnesota is around 2.37 inches. On average, Minnesota has an air quality index rating of around 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. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 33F during the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around -11F in the month of January. Minnesota experiences an average humidity rating of about 70%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 80% in the month of December. 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 wine, red, and black spine, tamarack, juniper, and black and white spruce. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the common loons, the eastern phoebe, the bald eagles, or the American kestrel. The state animal of Minnesota is the eastern timber wolf.