8 Best Independent Living Communities in Willmar, MN

Independent Living

For those who would like to live primarily without personal care assistance but would like the assistance of having housekeeping taken care of by professionalls, an Independent Living Community could be the perfect choice. Residents may continue to use their free time as they see fit while their food is cooked 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 an opportunity to be among peers, surrounded by others of similar ages and interests. Typically consisting of a private living area and a full kitchen, these communities offer homes 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 locations, a number of residences allow pets as well. If medical or nursing support is desired, residents may always enlist the services of independent health care professionalls. There are a number of expenditures and advantages to balance while selecting an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these amenities are covered in your plan: laundry, private phone, housekeeping, transportation, move-in fee, cable TV, meals, and parking. The benefits and amenities that pertain to independent living include game/TV room, healthcare center, concierge services, transportation, community activities, fitness center & swimming pool, beauty salon & barber shop, and restaurant-style dining hall.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be the motivating factor in deciding which destination works for your loved one. The median home value in Willmar is about $130,863 and the median price for rent is about $889 a month. The rent burden for Willmar is around 17.3% of the average monthly income.

Demographics and Values

In Willmar, 6.0% of the citizens are veterans. Out of the total population of Willmar, 13.0% have some form of disability, 8.0% do not have health insurance, 66.0% participate in the labor force, and 17.0% live in poverty. In terms of education, 19.9% have a college degree, 26.8% have a high-school diploma, and 6.8% have a graduate degree. Willmar has a population density of 542 people per square mile. Racially, the population of Willmar is 1.2% Asian, 0.6% Native American, 9.5% other or not specified, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 77.7% white, 22.0% Hispanic, 9.2% black, and 1.8% mixed race. Out of the total city population, 49.6% are male and 50.4% are female. The median age of Willmar is 34 years old.

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. Based on natural beauty, Minnesota ranks 3rd in the nation. Overall, Minnesota ranks 3rd out of all states in quality of life and 10th in healthcare. The state of Minnesota has 140 hospitals and 61 health centers, providing care to 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.

Social demographics of the state

The state of Minnesota ranks 27th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly. 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 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. The median age in the state is 38, and 29% of the population is over the age of 55.

State-wide weather information

During the summer, the average temperature in Minnesota is around 67F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 86F during the month of July. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 42F during the month of June. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 13F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 33F during the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around -11F during the month of January. 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 most precipitation occurs in June with an average of 5.59 inches of precipitation a month. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Minnesota is around 2.37 inches. On average, the humidity rating for Minnesota is around 70%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 80%. 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 pin cherry, black and white spruce, mountain ash, and tamarack. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the American kestrel, the eastern phoebe, the timber wolves, or the trumpeter swans. The state animal of Minnesota is the eastern timber wolf.