5 Best Independent Living Communities in Baker City, OR

Independent Living

Many seniors may be able to live without assistance, but cost of owning a home might deter them from an independent lifestyle. Independent Living Communities offer a good alternative. You or your loved one can live their lives as they see fit while their food is prepared by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are taken care of by staff, and social activities are scheduled and organized. 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. Typically comprised of a private living space and a full kitchen, these communities offer homes 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. If residents decide they would like to utilize the services of private medical providers, they may always do so. There are a variety of advantages and costs to balance when determining an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are included in the care plan: field trips, internet access, move-in fee, utilities, cable TV, laundry, parking, and Waiting list deposit. The conveniences that pertain to independent living include private rental hall, community activities, concierge services, laundry service, transportation, security guards, beauty salon & barber shop, and fitness center & swimming pool.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total city population, 48.2% are female and 51.8% are male. The median age of Baker City is 44 years old. Currently, the population of Baker City consists of 9,473 people and in total the Baker City metro area has a population of 9,783. Baker City has a population density of 527 people per square mile. In Baker City, 53.8% participate in the labor force, 7.8% do not have health insurance, 14.5% live in poverty, and 9.6% are widows. In Baker City, 15.7% of the citizens are veterans of the United States armed forces. In terms of education, 22.4% have a college degree, 7.5% have a graduate degree, and 35.3% have a high-school diploma. Demographically, Baker City is 2.1% other or not specified, 1.0% Asian, 91.8% white, 1.2% Native American, 0.5% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 3.9% Hispanic, 2.5% mixed race, and 1.0% black.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be a big influence in selecting which community works for your family. The median monthly rent in Baker City is $710 and the median home value for Baker City is $121,759. The rent burden for Baker City is about 16.3% of the average person’s monthly income.

State Information

An overview of Oregon

There are 64 hospitals and 163 health centers that service a population of 4,235,303. Asante Three Rivers Medical Center, OHSU Hospital And Clinics, and Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center are among the top three highest ranked hospitals in the state. The natural beauty of Oregon is ranked 30th in the nation. In terms of resources, Oregon has a cost of living index of 131.2, a grocery index rating of 110.3, and a housing index rating of 181.8. 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. The quality of life enjoyed by the average Oregon citizen is ranked 27th nation-wide. Additionally, Oregon is ranked 17th by standards of healthcare.

Social demographics of the state

In the last presidential election 50% of Oregon residents voted Democrat and 39% voted Republican. The median age in the state is 39, and 31% of the population is over the age of 55. The state of Oregon ranks 28th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly. In terms of religious values, 29% of Oregon’s population regularly attend some form of service and there are in total 4,026 different congregations. The top three Christian denominations in the state are Evangelical Protestant-29%, Mainline Protestant-13%, and Historically Black Protestant-1%. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-2%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%. In Oregon there are 120 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

Oregon experiences an average humidity rating of about 69%. Humidity levels tend to reach their peak in the month of December at around 88%. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 65F. The average high summer temperature is around 94F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 35F in the month of June. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 37F. The average high winter temperature is around 57F in the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 11F in the month of December. The average air quality index rating in Oregon is 35.4 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of August with a rating of 75.0 AQI. On average, the state receives 3.06 inches of precipitation a month. The most precipitation occurs in December with an average of 16.10 inches of precipitation a month. While residents of Oregon mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Oregon can include earthquakes (moderate), earthquakes (high), floods, and tornadoes.

Wildlife to be found in Oregon

The state of Oregon has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of pink spineflower, playa phacelia, pinto violet, and prettyface. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the franklin’s bumble bee,, the great white shark, the common garter snake, or the mountain beaver. The state animal of Oregon is the the beaver.