Best Independent Living in Duluth, MN

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 7 independent living communities in Duluth, MN using MN Dept. of Health data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in MN
Reviewed by
Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Duluth, MN our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Duluth, MN.
7 homes
Other senior care options in Duluth:

Open Arms Senior Living

4414 Martin Rd, Duluth, MN 55803
Overview of Open Arms Senior Living

Open Arms Senior Living in Duluth, Minnesota, provides assisted living, independent living, and memory care. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication, while independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering, and having these care levels together may suit a resident whose needs grow over time.

The home has 30 beds, creating a smaller community where staff and residents can get to know each other. Private rooms give residents their own sleeping spaces instead of shared rooms. Residents can use the on site salon and join wellness and exercise programs, with Jordann Balaich serving as director.

Contact Open Arms Senior Living

Overview of Benedictine Living Community-Duluth

Benedictine Living Community-Duluth offers nursing home, adult day care, assisted living, home care, independent living, memory care, respite care and skilled nursing in Duluth, Minnesota. The range of care options may be a good fit for a person whose needs could change over time, with several care settings available through the community.

Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care. Assisted living includes help with tasks such as dressing, bathing and medication. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. Nursing home and skilled nursing provide licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while respite care offers a short stay for a family whose usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

Adult day care provides daytime support while a person lives elsewhere, and home care brings assistance to the person’s residence. The community has 96 beds and is 95% occupied, so most of its residential capacity is in use. Payment options are Medicare, Medicaid and private pay, giving families several listed ways to cover care. Total nurse staffing is 4 hours and 19 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nursing time allocated to each resident. Pets are allowed for residents who have a pet companion.

Contact Benedictine Living Community-Duluth

Overview of Edgewood Vista – Hermantown

Edgewood Vista – Hermantown is a senior living community set on a hillside in the Duluth suburbs of northern Minnesota, about 2.5 miles from the center of Hermantown. The campus brings together independent living, assisted living, and memory care in one place, which gives families a path to stay put as needs change rather than moving again later. It has been operating for 26 years, a long enough run that the community has settled into the area and built a track record with local families.

Residents live in private rooms in a single-story building, a layout worth noting for anyone concerned about stairs or elevators. The community welcomes residents aged 55 and older, and pets are allowed, which matters a great deal to people who do not want to give up a companion animal when they move. Transportation services and fitness and recreation programming round out daily life on the campus.

Care support runs deeper than the housing itself. Through CaringEdge, the community’s healthcare services division, residents have access to on-site therapy services, home health, and hospice care. Having those services delivered on campus can spare residents the strain of traveling to appointments during recovery or at the end of life, and it keeps care coordinated under one roof.

The surrounding area is car dependent, with a walkability score of 18 out of 100, so most errands and outings will involve a drive. That said, the profile describes a location close to restaurants, shopping, and medical services, so the practical distances are short even when a car is needed. Visiting family should plan on driving, which is typical for suburban campuses of this kind in the Duluth area.

For admissions questions, Susan Muehlberger is the named contact for the community.

Contact Edgewood Vista – Hermantown

Overview of Primrose Retirement Community of Duluth

An independent and assisted living community at 724 Maple Grove Rd in Duluth, Minnesota, is Duluth Heights Lodge Senior Living. It’s a two-story residence that caters to 90 residents across various apartment options: studio, one-, and two-bedroom floor plans. Currently, the community maintains an 89 percent occupancy rate, with 80 residents in place.

Situated in a car-dependent neighborhood with a Walk Score of 23, the property requires a vehicle for most daily errands and activities. The area has limited walkable options for shopping and dining, making it most convenient for families and visitors driving to visit. The home offers assisted living and independent living choices, allowing occupants to select the support level that matches their current needs. With nearly 90 residents daily, Duluth Heights Lodge Senior Living provides a moderate-sized living environment that balances community and personalized attention.

State inspections flagged several areas for improvement related to food preparation compliance, employee training and record-keeping, and resident care documentation. The facility was determined to be in substantial compliance with Minnesota licensing statutes, with no substantiated complaints or findings of immediate jeopardy to resident safety.

Contact Primrose Retirement Community of Duluth

Overview of Lakeshore – the Fountains

Lakeshore – The Fountains covers a lot of ground under one roof in Duluth, Minnesota: assisted living, independent living, memory care, and respite care, all in a three-story building on London Rd. Kristy Johnson runs it as Executive Director. The neighborhood itself isn’t walkable: a Walk Score of 17 means you’re driving for nearly everything, which is worth knowing going in.

What’s actually backing up the care here is fairly substantial: there’s a doctor on staff, not just visiting, along with licensed nurses and CNAs and 24-hour staffing. Rehabilitation services and short-term rehab are both available, and respite care gives families a way to cover a short-term gap without committing to a permanent move. Home care rounds out the service list as an additional option.

Two named programs stand out: affordable housing and short-term transitional care, both suggesting this isn’t a one-track community. Transportation services and fitness and recreation programming handle the practical side of daily life. On the amenity side, there’s a salon, a spa, a courtyard and garden space, and guest suites for families who come to visit. Pets are allowed during visits in designated areas, though not as full-time residents.

Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital and its emergency department sit under three miles away, close enough to factor into planning if medical access matters. Put together, what Lakeshore – The Fountains offers is real depth: multiple care levels, licensed medical staffing, rehabilitation services, and amenities that go past the basics, all inside one Duluth campus.

Contact Lakeshore – The Fountains

Overview of Assisted Living at the Shores

Assisted Living at the Shores, in Duluth, MN, offers eight care types from an address in the Lakeside-Lester Park neighborhood. They are skilled nursing, memory care, assisted living, independent living, adult day care, home care, hospice care, and respite care.

Assisted living residents have a private apartment, and staff see them through bathing, dressing, and medication. Memory care meets wandering risk with supervision inside a secured space. Independent living leaves out daily care, offering only private quarters and community services, and skilled nursing is the licensed clinical level.

Adult day care sends a participant home each night. Home care travels to where a person already lives. Hospice care meets end-of-life needs, and respite fills in for a caregiver who is traveling or on the mend. A family wanting residential care alongside daytime, in-home, end-of-life, or short-term help has all of it in one place.

The residences come as one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms. A one-bedroom gives a single resident private space, and two bedrooms suit spouses or a resident hoping for a companion.

Contact Assisted Living At The Shores

Overview of Primrose of Duluth

Nestled in Duluth, Minnesota, Primrose of Duluth is a distinguished assisted living community with memory care services. They understand that each resident is a unique individual with their own preferences, emotions, and social needs so their care plans are tailored to meet the specific requirements of each resident, ensuring personalized and comprehensive support.

For residents who need memory care, Primrose offers specially designed apartments that provide a spacious and beautiful living environment. With a warm home-like ambiance, these memory care apartments are thoughtfully crafted to enhance the person-centered care approach that Primrose is known for. By creating an atmosphere that promotes comfort and familiarity, residents can feel at ease and receive the highest quality of care in a setting that feels like home.

Contact Primrose Of Duluth

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
Submit a correction

Independent Living in Duluth at a glance

Avg Walk Score: 16/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Duluth, MN. 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: 63The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Duluth, MN. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90
Who we are

Your Senior Care Partner, Every Step of the Way

We help families find affordable senior communities and unlock same day discounts, Medicaid, and Medicare options tailored to your needs.

Contact us Today

Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in Duluth, MN

What is the average cost of independent living in Duluth, MN?

The average monthly cost of independent living in Duluth, MN is approximately $2,094. Actual rates vary by community, level of care, and floorplan.

What is the price range for independent living in Duluth, MN?

Independent living in Duluth, MN typically ranges from $476 - $3,960 per month, depending on the community, room type, and care needs.

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 7 independent living communities in Duluth, MN. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in Duluth, MN?

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 Duluth, MN, 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 Duluth, MN?

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.