Best Independent Living in California

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 648 independent living communities in CA using CA Dept. of Social Services (CDSS) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in CA
Reviewed by
Last updated
Aug 2026
We analyzed These are the facilities in California our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in California.
648 homes
Other senior care options in California:

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Avg Walk Score: 59/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in California. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 104The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in California. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Independent Living around California

Info below is compiled from the CA Dept. of Social Services (CDSS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. RESC (Residential Care): Personal care and daily-living support in a smaller, more intimate residential setting. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HC (Home Care): Professional care delivered in the person's own home, from companionship to skilled nursing.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
A composite 0–100 score combining this facility's inspections, citations, complaints, and enforcement actions relative to the California state average. See the benchmark below for the typical California score; higher is better. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine score.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Visits or investigations linked to complaints, as counted in the state record (may differ from routine annual surveys).
Count of California state "Type A" citations — the state's most serious citation category (immediate or serious harm to residents), from California state inspection data.
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Reported or derived occupancy for the facility—typically how fully licensed capacity is utilized. Compare across peers in the same market.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
Name of the licensed owner, operator, or managing entity as filed with the state. Useful for grouping facilities under the same organization.
Housing or bed configuration options (e.g. studio, shared), often from facility-reported amenities and licensing details.
Harrison Villa of Mt. San Antonio Gardens
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Pomona
520
Facility 520
CA AVG 104
Rank #16 / 1,646
No 45
94
Facility 94
CA AVG 81
Rank #212 / 1,475
14
3
Facility 3
CA AVG 13
Rank #443 / 1,388
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 3
Rank #1 / 1,434
33
Facility 33
CA AVG 13
Rank #88 / 1,504
84.0% -Congregational Homes, IncorporatedStudio
Vi at La Jolla Village
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
San Diego (University City)
783
Facility 783
CA AVG 104
Rank #5 / 1,646
No
88
Facility 88
CA AVG 59
Rank #218 / 2,058
84
Facility 84
CA AVG 81
Rank #732 / 1,475
34
17
Facility 17
CA AVG 13
Rank #1,057 / 1,388
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 3
Rank #1 / 1,434
28
Facility 28
CA AVG 13
Rank #155 / 1,504
69.3% -Ccw La Jolla LLC, Cc La Jolla LLC, And Classic Res MgmtSuite / Penthouse / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Vi at Palo Alto
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Palo Alto
876
Facility 876
CA AVG 104
Rank #1 / 1,646
No
80
Facility 80
CA AVG 59
Rank #416 / 2,058
90
Facility 90
CA AVG 81
Rank #461 / 1,475
24
10
Facility 10
CA AVG 13
Rank #846 / 1,388
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 3
Rank #1 / 1,434
21
Facility 21
CA AVG 13
Rank #362 / 1,504
73.1% -Cc Palo Alto LLC And Classic Res. Mgmt. Ltd. Partner1 Bed / 2 Bed / 3 Bed
The Reutlinger Community
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Danville
120
Facility 120
CA AVG 104
Rank #560 / 1,646
No
30
Facility 30
CA AVG 59
Rank #1,717 / 2,058
86
Facility 86
CA AVG 81
Rank #649 / 1,475
27
11
Facility 11
CA AVG 13
Rank #886 / 1,388
1
Facility 1
CA AVG 3
Rank #478 / 1,434
28
Facility 28
CA AVG 13
Rank #155 / 1,504
65.0% A+Reutlinger Community, The And Eskaton Properties IncStudio / 1 Bed
Canterbury Woods
IL
AL
NH
SNF
Pacific Grove
190
Facility 190
CA AVG 104
Rank #180 / 1,646
Yes
81
Facility 81
CA AVG 59
Rank #383 / 2,058
91
Facility 91
CA AVG 81
Rank #408 / 1,475
13
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 13
Rank #326 / 1,388
1
Facility 1
CA AVG 3
Rank #478 / 1,434
42
Facility 42
CA AVG 13
Rank #33 / 1,504
72.6% A+Front Porch Communities And Services1 Bed / 2 Bed
The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens a CCRC
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Fresno
652
Facility 652
CA AVG 104
Rank #9 / 1,646
Yes 57
88
Facility 88
CA AVG 81
Rank #563 / 1,475
20
4
Facility 4
CA AVG 13
Rank #526 / 1,388
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 3
Rank #724 / 1,434
32
Facility 32
CA AVG 13
Rank #105 / 1,504
57.2% A+Humangood & Humangood Norcal & Humangood Fresno-
Webster House
IL
AL
NH
SNF
Palo Alto (Crescent Park)
54
Facility 54
CA AVG 104
Rank #1,116 / 1,646
Yes
90
Facility 90
CA AVG 59
Rank #171 / 2,058
94
Facility 94
CA AVG 81
Rank #212 / 1,475
7
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 13
Rank #1 / 1,388
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 3
Rank #1 / 1,434
11
Facility 11
CA AVG 13
Rank #652 / 1,504
90.7% -Front Porch Communities And Services1 Bed / 2 Bed
O‘Connor Woods
IL
AL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Stockton (Sherwood Manor)
499
Facility 499
CA AVG 104
Rank #23 / 1,646
Yes
22
Facility 22
CA AVG 59
Rank #1,824 / 2,058
94
Facility 94
CA AVG 81
Rank #212 / 1,475
13
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 13
Rank #326 / 1,388
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 3
Rank #1 / 1,434
34
Facility 34
CA AVG 13
Rank #79 / 1,504
0-O'connor Woods HousingStudio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
University Retirement Community
IL
AL
HC
MC
NH
SNF
Davis (West Davis)
500
Facility 500
CA AVG 104
Rank #22 / 1,646
No 54
91
Facility 91
CA AVG 81
Rank #408 / 1,475
15
4
Facility 4
CA AVG 13
Rank #526 / 1,388
1
Facility 1
CA AVG 3
Rank #478 / 1,434
28
Facility 28
CA AVG 13
Rank #155 / 1,504
0-Univer Retire Com At Davis/Pacific Retire Services1 Bed / 2 Bed / 3 Bed
The Vineyards – California Armenian Home
IL
AL
MC
NH
RESC
SNF
Fresno (Roosevelt)
412
Facility 412
CA AVG 104
Rank #27 / 1,646
Yes
24
Facility 24
CA AVG 59
Rank #1,795 / 2,058
91
Facility 91
CA AVG 81
Rank #408 / 1,475
18
8
Facility 8
CA AVG 13
Rank #759 / 1,388
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 3
Rank #1 / 1,434
41
Facility 41
CA AVG 13
Rank #36 / 1,504
54.1% -California Home For The Aged IncStudio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every CA community we track that reports that metric, not just the 648 on this page.

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Overview of Harrison Villa of Mt. San Antonio Gardens

Harrison Villa of Mt. San Antonio Gardens offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, and skilled nursing in Pomona, California. Having several care levels in one community may suit someone whose needs increase over time, because moving to another level could be possible without leaving the community, subject to assessment, availability, and community policies. Assisted living supports daily activities, memory care provides supervision for residents with dementia related needs, and nursing home or skilled nursing care addresses more intensive nursing needs.

Rehabilitation services and short term rehabilitation give someone recovering from an illness, injury, hospitalization, or procedure a temporary setting focused on regaining function. Respite care offers a temporary stay when a usual caregiver needs relief or is unavailable. High Acuity Assisted Living may suit residents who need more help or have greater care complexity than standard assisted living, and the community also has a Wellness Center.

Staffing is available around the clock, including overnight. Total nurse staffing is 6 hours and 37 minutes per resident per day, including 2 hours and 28 minutes from licensed nurses; this describes average nursing staff time rather than one nurse being assigned continuously to one resident. Medicare and private pay are accepted. Medicare applies when services meet Medicare eligibility and coverage rules, while private pay allows families to use their own funds.

A Walk Score of 45 is classified as car dependent, so someone who no longer drives will generally need a family member or another ride for most errands. Joyce Frempong is the administrator, and Congregational Homes, Incorporated operates the community. The range of care may be a good fit for someone whose needs could increase over time, particularly when remaining in the same community matters and the needed level has availability.

Contact Harrison Villa of Mt. San Antonio Gardens

Overview of VI at La Jolla Village

VI at La Jolla Village is a senior living community located at 8515 Costa Verde Boulevard in the University City neighborhood of San Diego, California. Operated by Classic Residence Management and administered by Stephanie Boudreau, the high-rise continuing care retirement community (CCRC) provides a full continuum of care, incorporating independent living, assisted living, memory support, and skilled nursing.

The campus contains 783 beds across a range of housing configurations, including suites, standard apartments, and penthouses. The community holds a 69 percent occupancy rate, with skilled nursing residents staying an average of 79 days during rehabilitation. Nursing care levels average roughly 5 hours and 16 minutes per resident daily.

Lifestyle amenities include a salt-filtered pool, movie theater, library, salon, private gardens, and an active resident council. The property is pet-friendly and sits near the VA Medical Center-San Diego in a highly walkable neighborhood with a walk score of 88.

Family representatives can contact the Costa Verde Boulevard office to schedule an in-person tour or check apartment floor plan availability.

Contact Vi at La Jolla Village

Overview of VI at Palo Alto

Enjoy the picturesque scenery of Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA, with the astounding senior living community of VI at Palo Alto offering assisted living, independent living, memory care, and skilled nursing. The community features cozy and purposely built residences in variations of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom floor plans, ensuring relaxation and security at its finest. A kind and highly trained team lends extra hands for seniors to live their golden years doing what they love.

With the seniors’ well-being in mind, the community conducts engaging activities and enjoyable programs to ensure they maintain an active and happy lifestyle. Have an unforgettable dining experience with delectable and healthy meals catering to nutritional needs and preferences. VI at Palo Alto is a safe place for seniors seeking solace in their golden years with its serene spaces and friendly community guiding you every step of the way.

Contact Vi at Palo Alto

Overview of The Reutlinger Community

Everyday is a life-enhancing opportunity at The Reutlinger Community, a charming senior living community in Contra Costa County, Danville, CA, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. With its continuum of care services, residents are guaranteed to gracefully age in place with seamless transition should their needs evolve. Residents are welcomed into beautifully designed studios, one-bedroom apartments, and memory care units that perfectly align with their tastes and needs.

With 24-hour team availability, residents and their loved ones can rest easy knowing they will be constantly supported by care partners who are truly invested in their health and happiness. Residents are empowered to continue living life to the fullest with lifelong learning programs, activities and opportunities for socialization offered by the community. Beautiful community amenities, including cozy lounge areas, dining rooms, an art room and physical fitness studio, provides relaxing space for exploration and enjoyment.

Contact The Reutlinger Community

Overview of Canterbury Woods

Canterbury Woods sits on Renaissance Drive in Williamsville, a village in Erie County with a walk score of 81; that’s high. Residents’ families can park the car and actually walk to whatever they need nearby. The 50-bed nursing home has been open since 1999, and it runs as part of the Episcopal Church Home and Affiliates Life Care Community, a continuing care retirement network, under operator Shaida Behnam.

Right now, 41 of those 50 beds are filled, which puts occupancy at 82 percent. Residents get 5 hours and 6 minutes of combined nursing care every single day. For a nursing home, that’s a lot of hands-on time, and it tends to matter more to families than almost anything else on a profile like this one.

Canterbury Woods takes Medicare and private pay, so there’s some room for families figuring out how to cover the bill. And if your parent has a dog or a cat they refuse to leave behind? Good news: pets are allowed here.

As for the state inspections, they’ve generally circled around the stuff you’d expect a nursing home to get checked on: infection control, fire safety, whether staff are properly trained and credentialed, food service, resident rights, and basic upkeep of the building.

Put it all together and Canterbury Woods reads like a place built for real nursing care, not a lifestyle community with a nurse on call. The staffing hours back that up. Whether someone’s coming in for a few weeks of rehab or settling in for the long haul, the daily care hours are the thing that actually tells you what living here looks like.

Contact Canterbury Woods

Overview of The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens a CCRC

The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens has been a pioneer in making residents feel welcomed and comfortable for its independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing residents. Seniors live a vibrant lifestyle where they can pursue individual goals and needs with additional support. The Terraces is a safe and secure continuing retirement community that ensures seniors and their families the best senior care.

The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens maintain an active lifestyle for its residents to take advantage of– a dining experience that provides delicious meals created by an executive chef, wellness programs planned for those who want to stay active with social, intellectual, and cultural opportunities found in their yoga and dance classes. 

Contact The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens a CCRC

Overview of Webster House

One of Palo Alto’s premier communities, Webster House creates a fulfilling intellectual diversity that seniors can immerse themselves in at the heart of Silicon Valley. From vibrant urban living to an engaged retirement experience, the tightly-knit home is a place for endless opportunities that await discovery for independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing residents. Through its personalized care approach to senior care, residents will find a lifestyle that suits their needs and satisfies holistic wellness.

As a Front Porch Community, Webster House offers a forward-thinking Life Plan Advantage that encourages individuality and comfort supported by its well-trained professional care staff. From healthcare to delicious dining, residents can expect a range of comprehensive services that promote a lifestyle fulfilled by safety and convenience.

Contact Webster House

O‘Connor Woods

3400 Wagner Heights Rd, Stockton, CA 95209
Overview of O‘connor Woods

Situated in the vibrant Stockton, CA, O’Connor Woods provides a safe and supportive environment where independence and personal choice are celebrated. Their mission centers on providing holistic care that enriches the lives of residents, addressing their diverse needs and preferences through independent living and assisted living. Compassion, respect, and dignity guide their approach to senior living, ensuring everyone feels valued and supported.

O’Connor Woods boasts resort-style amenities, including restaurant-style dining with locally sourced cuisine and social engagement opportunities. With pet-friendly residences and 24-hour staffing, residents enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle while receiving constant support. The community offers innovative educational, cultural, and social programs alongside spiritual care options, promoting overall well-being. Additionally, top-notch exercise classes and personalized assistance with daily activities ensure residents lead fulfilling lives tailored to their unique needs and desires through excellent assisted living.

Contact O‘Connor Woods

Overview of University Retirement Community

Located in the heart of Davis, CA, University Retirement Community is a luxury senior living community that offers its residents an extravagant independent living environment. The community provides its residents with stunning and snug accommodations with home maintenance and other household chores taken care of for a carefree living experience. Each residence is equipped with private decks, large windows, full kitchens, and large living and dining areas that foster a comfortable and convenient living environment.

Designed to nurture residents’ overall aspect of well-being, the community also offers an array of wellness initiatives and enriching activities. Residents keep their minds sharp with the community’s excellent range of lifelong learning opportunities that help stimulate their minds and cognitive abilities. Here at University Retirement Community, residents spend less time worrying about the small things, and more time pursuing the things they love.

Contact University Retirement Community

Overview of The Vineyards – California Armenian Home

Offering a continuum of care, the blissful senior living community of The Vineyards – California Armenian Home in Fresno County, Fresno, CA, empowers seniors to successfully age in place with access to care needs even as their needs change. The community offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, designed to accommodate various lifestyle needs and provide excellent care. Choose from an array of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, and move into a residence that perfectly matches your lifestyle needs.

The community features a hardworking team, available 24/7 to provide compassionate, efficient, and professional care and support to every resident. Residents are empowered to continue learning, growing and living life to its fullest with a plethora of activities, including gardening, Tai Chi lessons, cooking classes, and exercise sessions. Another highlight of living in the community is their exceptional dining with meals inspired by the freshest locally sourced ingredients, grown right within the community.

Contact The Vineyards – California Armenian Home

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
No paid rankings Communities cannot pay to influence placement.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in California

What is independent living?

Independent living communities are residential settings for active older adults — typically with private apartments or cottages, shared amenities (dining, fitness, activities), and no built-in medical care.

How many independent living communities are listed on this page?

This page features 648 independent living communities in California. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in California?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in California, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting independent living communities in California?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.