10 Best Independent Living Communities in Chester, VA

Independent Living

For many seniors, the cost burden of home ownership might be a deterrent to an independent life. Independent Living Communities offer a great alternative. Seniors can continue to use their free time as they see fit while their meals are cooked by a professionall chef, housekeeping and laundry duties are handled by staff, and social activities are scheduled and organized. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to be among peers, surrounded by others of similar age groups and interests. Typically comprised of a private living area 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 there will be more time to spend with them with the basic maintenance of daily chores out of the way. While policies vary between locations, many residences allow cats and dogs as well. If medical or nursing assistance is desired, residents may always utilize the services of private care providers. There are an assortment of costs and advantages to keep in mind when choosing an independent living community. It is important to learn if these amenities are covered in the plan: move-in fee, field trips, internet access, utilities, meals, laundry, initial assessment fee, and cable TV. The amenities that pertain to independent living include laundry service, concierge services, security guards, game/TV room, beauty salon & barber shop, restaurant-style dining hall, healthcare center, and community activities.

Demographics and Values

Out of the total city population, 54.6% are female and 45.4% are male. The median age of Chester is 40 years old. In terms of education, 11.8% have a graduate degree, 28.6% have a college degree, and 27.7% have a high-school diploma. In Chester, 12.6% of the people are veterans of the United States armed forces. Currently, the population of Chester consists of 21,957 people. Chester has a population density of 641 people per square mile. Out of the total population of Chester, 7.8% live in poverty, 12.9% have some form of disability, 65.0% participate in the labor force, and 4.6% consider themselves widows. Racially, the population of Chester is 71.3% white, 19.9% black, 3.1% other or not specified, 1.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.1% Native American, 7.0% Hispanic, and 3.8% mixed race.

Cost of Living

The cost of care for a community is affected by the neighborhood in which it is located. The rent burden for Chester is around 18.4% of the average person’s monthly income. Monthly, the median cost for rent in Chester is $1,174 and the median price for a home for Chester is approximately $207,001.

State Information

An overview of Virginia

In total, Virginia has 147 general hospitals and 98 health centers that provide care for 8,570,488 citizens. Central Health Inc., Inova Loudon Hospital, and Inova Fairfax Hospital are among the top three highest ranked hospitals in the state. The quality of life enjoyed by the average Virginia citizen is ranked 7th nation-wide. Additionally, Virginia is ranked 18th by standards of healthcare. Residents of Virginia enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 18th in the United States. The state of Virginia has a cost of living index of 102.0 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 96.1 and a housing index rating of 108.0.

Social demographics of the state

The state of Virginia ranks 12th in the country for diversity. In Virginia, 28% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 38. In the most recent presidential election, 44% of Virginia residents voted Republican and 50% voted Democrat. In terms of religion, 44% of Virginia residents attend religious services among the 10,088 different congregations that are available in the state. 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-30%, Mainline Protestant-16%, and Historically Black Protestant-12%. In Virginia there are 519 masonic lodges.

State-wide weather information

Virginia experiences an average humidity rating of about 69%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 75% in the month of August. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Virginia is around 3.65 inches. The most precipitation occurs in September with an average of 6.34 inches of precipitation a month. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 74F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 91F during the month of July. In the summer, the average low temperature drops to around 52F during the month of June. During the winter, the average temperature in Virginia drops to around 37F. The average high winter temperature is around 55F in the month of February. In the winter months, the average low temperature falls to around 17F during the month of January. The average air quality index rating in Virginia is 31.6 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of April with a rating of around 40.4 AQI. While residents of Virginia mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Virginia can include hurricanes, floods, and and earthquakes (moderate).

Wildlife to be found in Virginia

The state of Virginia has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of persimmon, pine, diverse azaleas, and trailing arbutus. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the mink, the whitetail deer, the groundhog, or the gray and red foxes. The state animal of Virginia is the the bat.