Page 16 of Best Independent Living in California

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 640 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
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We analyzed These are the facilities in California our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in California.
640 homes
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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-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our 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. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community): A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
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 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
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.
Cogir of Sonoma
IL
AL
Sonoma
82
Facility 82
CA AVG 168
Rank #327 / 409
Yes
74
Facility 74
CA AVG 59
Rank #207 / 638
B-12
3
Facility 3
CA AVG 13
Rank #63 / 391
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 3
Rank #185 / 398
7
Facility 7
CA AVG 15
Rank #240 / 402
34.1%
Facility 34.1%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #357 / 361
A+Welltower Cogir Tenant And Cogir Management Usa1 Bed / 2 Bed
Northridge Valley Senior Living
IL
AL
MC
RC
Los Angeles (Northridge)
110
Facility 110
CA AVG 168
Rank #270 / 409
Yes
71
Facility 71
CA AVG 59
Rank #238 / 638
B-28
19
Facility 19
CA AVG 13
Rank #290 / 391
3
Facility 3
CA AVG 3
Rank #239 / 398
17
Facility 17
CA AVG 15
Rank #145 / 402
66.4%
Facility 66.4%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #234 / 361
A+Pacifica Somerfield LLC And Northridge Sl Mgr LLCStudio / Suite
Pacifica Senior Living Poway
IL
AL
RC
Poway
72
Facility 72
CA AVG 168
Rank #338 / 409
Yes
36
Facility 36
CA AVG 59
Rank #507 / 638
B17
11
Facility 11
CA AVG 13
Rank #210 / 391
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 3
Rank #1 / 398
4
Facility 4
CA AVG 15
Rank #322 / 402
72.2%
Facility 72.2%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #189 / 361
A+Gateway Park Holdings LLC And California Senior Et AlStudio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Atria Sunnyvale
IL
AL
MC
Sunnyvale
160
Facility 160
CA AVG 168
Rank #154 / 409
Yes
78
Facility 78
CA AVG 59
Rank #168 / 638
B-14
6
Facility 6
CA AVG 13
Rank #124 / 391
3
Facility 3
CA AVG 3
Rank #239 / 398
27
Facility 27
CA AVG 15
Rank #84 / 402
61.9%
Facility 61.9%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #270 / 361
-Wg Sunnyvale Sh LP And Atria Management Co LLCStudio / 1 Bed
The Trousdale
IL
AL
MC
Burlingame (Mills Estates)
140
Facility 140
CA AVG 168
Rank #211 / 409
Yes
85
Facility 85
CA AVG 59
Rank #99 / 638
B-15
7
Facility 7
CA AVG 13
Rank #153 / 391
10
Facility 10
CA AVG 3
Rank #366 / 398
7
Facility 7
CA AVG 15
Rank #240 / 402
90.7%
Facility 90.7%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #42 / 361
-Peninsula Health Care Dist Fin And Eskaton PropertiesStudio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Atria Grand Oaks
IL
AL
MC
Thousand Oaks
140
Facility 140
CA AVG 168
Rank #211 / 409
Yes
81
Facility 81
CA AVG 59
Rank #132 / 638
C32
19
Facility 19
CA AVG 13
Rank #290 / 391
6
Facility 6
CA AVG 3
Rank #327 / 398
12
Facility 12
CA AVG 15
Rank #173 / 402
80.7%
Facility 80.7%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #110 / 361
A+Wg Go Gp LLC And Atria Management Co LLCStudio / Suite / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Friends House
IL
AL
Santa Rosa
145
Facility 145
CA AVG 168
Rank #198 / 409
Yes
48
Facility 48
CA AVG 59
Rank #432 / 638
C12
5
Facility 5
CA AVG 13
Rank #111 / 391
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 3
Rank #185 / 398
19
Facility 19
CA AVG 15
Rank #134 / 402
100.0%
Facility 100.0%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #1 / 361
-Front Porch Communities And Services1 Bed / 2 Bed
Westmont of Pinole
IL
AL
MC
Pinole
100
Facility 100
CA AVG 168
Rank #286 / 409
Yes
73
Facility 73
CA AVG 59
Rank #224 / 638
C+32
20
Facility 20
CA AVG 13
Rank #300 / 391
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 3
Rank #185 / 398
28
Facility 28
CA AVG 15
Rank #66 / 402
100.0%
Facility 100.0%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #1 / 361
-Westmont Manager Gp LLC And Westmont Living IncStudio / 1 Bed
Kingsley Manor
IL
AL
Los Angeles (East Hollywood)
299
Facility 299
CA AVG 168
Rank #41 / 409
Yes
93
Facility 93
CA AVG 59
Rank #41 / 638
B+65
47
Facility 47
CA AVG 13
Rank #385 / 391
6
Facility 6
CA AVG 3
Rank #327 / 398
13
Facility 13
CA AVG 15
Rank #167 / 402
54.8%
Facility 54.8%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #300 / 361
-Front Porch Communities And ServicesStudio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Brookdale Valley View
IL
AL
CCRC
MC
NH
SNF
Garden Grove (West Garden Grove)
160
Facility 160
CA AVG 168
Rank #154 / 409
Yes
76
Facility 76
CA AVG 59
Rank #183 / 638
B+30
13
Facility 13
CA AVG 13
Rank #232 / 391
5
Facility 5
CA AVG 3
Rank #302 / 398
27
Facility 27
CA AVG 15
Rank #84 / 402
39.4%
Facility 39.4%
CA AVG 71.7%
Rank #351 / 361
-Summerville At Cobbco Inc And Emeritus CorporationStudio / Suite

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each independent living community is ranked against every other CA independent living community we track that reports that metric, not just the 640 on this page. See how we rank facilities

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Overview of Cogir of Sonoma

Located in the harmonious neighborhood of Oregon Street, Sonoma, CA, Cogir of Sonoma is a blissful senior living community, that provides assisted living and independent living. Live in comfort and luxury with sophisticated and well-designed floor plans including one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. The community strives to deliver the highest quality of care and assistance for seniors to enjoy a worry-free retirement within its beautiful grounds.

Engaging activities and fun learning opportunities are conducted to encourage seniors to remain active and happy. From its well-made hallways and amenities, the community ensures the finest experience for residents. Delight in healthy and tasty meals catering to seniors’ dietary needs and preferences. With its ethereal grounds and wonderful amenities, Cogir of Sonoma strives to be a safe place for seniors to spend their golden years in style.

Contact Cogir of Sonoma

Northridge Valley Senior Living

8700 Lindley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91325
Overview of Northridge Valley Senior Living

Northridge Valley Senior Living is a 110-bed assisted living and memory care community offering respite care and pet-friendly accommodations at 8700 Lindley Avenue in Northridge, California. Licensed since 2020, the community serves residents in Los Angeles County. It is operated by Pacifica Somerfield LLC and Northridge SL Mgr LLC under administrator Benedict Pak.

Falling below California’s average is the inspection record. Since 2021, Northridge Valley Senior Living totaled 12 citations against a California average of 10, with 19 complaints compared to a state average of 14 and complaint visits at 19 versus a state average of 13. Citations per routine inspection run 0.4 against a 3.3 California average, with citation activity driven primarily by complaint investigations instead of standard inspections. No serious citations are present. The latest inspection was in August 2025. Occupancy is at 66 percent, below the California average of 72.8 percent, indicating current availability across the campus.

Amenities span gardens, concierge services, and a full-service beauty salon. In an elegant dining room, chef-prepared meals are served every day. The activities calendar includes ice cream socials, bingo, art projects, trivia, and happy hour. Northridge Valley Senior Living has received recognition as one of the best assisted living communities in Northridge.

With current availability and a resort-style amenity, the facility suits older adults seeking assisted living or memory care in a larger community in San Fernando Valley, serving residents in Los Angeles County.

Contact Northridge Valley Senior Living

Pacifica Senior Living Poway

12750 Gateway Park Rd, Poway, CA 92064
Overview of Pacifica Senior Living Poway

Pacifica Senior Living Poway, in Poway, California, is a premier care facility that is the right for its residents. They offer more than 55 apartments for independent living, respite care, and assisted living services with tailored care programs for seniors’ needs and preferences. The community provides a wide range of engaging activities and programs, creating a beautiful and serene environment for residents to enjoy with a comprehensive array of services and amenities, including round-the-clock staff support, housekeeping, and laundry services.
The community prioritizes the independence and well-being of its residents, ensuring that their unique care needs are met with personalized attention—the elegant and inviting atmosphere that promotes self-care and encourages residents to engage in physical activity. The beautiful outdoor courtyard offers residents a peaceful place to stroll and connect with nature. Combined with exceptional services and world-class amenities, PSL-Poway provides peace of mind to families in the community.

Contact Pacifica Senior Living Poway

Overview of Atria Sunnyvale

Atria Sunnyvale offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere that helps encourage a sense of community for the welfare of its residents in Santa Clara Valley. Their commitment to ensuring that an individual can feel independent while engaged is one of their utmost priorities for a balanced lifestyle. They emphasize independent living, assisted living, and memory care, ensuring that their residents are healthy and active. Atria Sunnyvale has provided a diverse and inclusive environment, offering a strong sense of community.

The vibrant lifestyle of all-inclusive amenities includes daily delicious and nutritious meals, weekly housekeeping and laundry services, daily fitness activities with their finest gym equipment, private apartments with an emergency call system, 24-hour resident nurse presence, and a cafe available.

Contact Atria Sunnyvale

Overview of The Trousdale

The Trousdale is a highly regarded retirement community in Burlingame, CA, that offers comprehensive care options, ranging from independent living to memory care. Promoting a comfortable and welcoming environment, the community ensures older adults can find a home away from home in their later years. Restaurant-style dining, life-enrichment programs, and maintenance services are among the high-quality services offered to improve residents’ quality of life. With its relationship-driven environment, the community ensures residents gain meaningful connections while receiving the utmost attention for their needs through personalized services.

Exercise classes, like Tai Chi and yoga, as well as art activities and social gatherings, provide residents with more opportunities to explore new hobbies and remain active. Pet-friendly spaces, a wellness center, and a cafe bistro ensure residents can relax and freely interact with their surroundings. Located near the San Francisco International Airport, scenic beaches, and state parks, the community has easy access to various local amenities. As one of the finest options for senior living in California, this retirement community ensures older adults have convenient access to higher levels of care.

Contact The Trousdale

Atria Grand Oaks

2177 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Overview of Atria Grand Oaks

Discover a vibrant senior lifestyle at the thoughtfully designed senior living community of Atria Grand Oaks, located just across the street from the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, CA. Atria Grand Oaks offers independent and assisted living as well as memory care options for seniors. With vibrant events, modern amenities, and a lush landscape, residents can enjoy the lifestyle they desire at Atria. From spacious apartments to tailored care plans, Atria Grand Oaks provides a supportive environment for seniors at every stage.

Atria Grand Oaks is dedicated to inspiring a healthy, engaging, and meaningful life for its residents. Residents may pursue their fitness goals while enjoying the lovely weather thanks to amenities, including a fitness center, heated swimming pool, and walking pathways.  Other amenities include a restaurant with table service, a cocktail lounge, a private dining room, and an outdoor grill for socializing and dining.  Atria Grand Oaks residents also enjoy access to recreational, cultural, and educational programs, guaranteeing a well-rounded senior living experience.

Contact Atria Grand Oaks

Overview of Friends House

In pursuit of a dynamic lifestyle, Friends House, located in Santa Rosa, CA, fosters personal growth and vibrant social connections for its senior and assisted living community. With a vision centered on simplicity, the community in Santa Rosa embodies a commitment to positive aging, emphasizing well-being as needs evolve. Residents actively plan and curate cultural, educational, and environmental events, epitomized by the annual Jazz in July celebration.

Friends House offers a continuum of healthcare and assisted living services tailored to individual needs, including independent living, home care services, and assisted living. The community promotes holistic wellness through a Fitness Center, activity groups, clubs, and events, fostering emotional, social, and physical well-being. Residents can enjoy complimentary breakfast and choose from a delicious selection for lunch and dinner at the Friends House Café, catering to diverse dietary requirements. The community’s commitment to simplicity, growth, and well-being creates an inviting atmosphere for seniors seeking a fulfilling and enriching lifestyle.

Contact Friends House

Overview of Westmont of Pinole

Westmont of Pinole is a prominent senior living community in Pinole, CA, offering assisted living, independent living, and memory care. Residents receive top-notch care and support from a kind and reliable team to meet their needs and aspirations. The community also handles housekeeping and other daily responsibilities to ensure residents enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle.

A robust calendar of engaging activities and enjoyable programs accompanies residents as they learn new things and rediscover their interests. With healthy and delicious meals, residents can rest assured of hassle-free dining that caters to their dietary needs and tastes. Westmont of Pinole is great for those looking to make every moment of their best years count surrounded by incredible amenities and a trusted community.

Contact Westmont of Pinole

Kingsley Manor

1055 N Kingsley Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Overview of Kingsley Manor

Offering independent living and assisted living, Kingsley Manor is a retirement home in Los Angeles, California, with a large capacity of 299 beds. Operating for over 12 years, the community currently has 164 beds occupied. Regularly scheduled on-site physicians and a 24-hour care team are provided, along with pharmaceutical, laboratory, and podiatry services. The community also provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy for those needing specialized care.

Volunteer opportunities, cultural explorations, and resident-initiated programs are available to help maintain residents’ holistic wellness and promote socialization. Scheduled transportation, a wellness clinic, and walking paths are also available on-site, ensuring residents can move about and travel to appointments safely. The community is also set in a highly walkable neighborhood with a Walk Score of 93, making it a Walker’s Paradise where amenities and services are conveniently accessible on foot. Kingsley Manor also accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, accommodating a variety of older adults and families seeking personal care.

Contact Kingsley Manor

Overview of Brookdale Valley View

Brookdale Valley View, nestled in 5900 Chapman Avenue in Garden Grove, California, extends exceptional assisted living services in a vibrant community setting. With a focus on providing quality care, genuine relationships, and time for residents to enjoy their retirement, Brookdale Valley View is committed to meeting the individual needs of each resident. The community offers personalized assistance with daily tasks such as housekeeping, meals, bathing, dressing, and medication reminders.

Residents can enjoy a variety of amenities, including a fully stocked library, game room, beauty parlor, patio, and courtyard. With three different apartment floor plans to choose from, residents can find the perfect space to call their own, complete with a private balcony or patio and plenty of natural light. Their health and wellness programs are designed to help residents stay fit and active. The B-Fit exercise program offers a fun social exercise experience, while transportation services to doctors’ appointments and fitness classes are also available. Thanks to Brookdale Valley View’s focus on holistic wellness, your loved one can live life to the fullest.

Contact Brookdale Valley View

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.
How we're paid: If we help you find a community and you move in, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Independent Living in California at a glance

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: 168The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in California. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90
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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 640 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.