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Best Independent Living in Hillsborough County, FL

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 4 independent living communities in Hillsborough County, FL using FL Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in FL
Reviewed by
Last updated
Jan 2026
We analyzed
4 homes
Other senior care options in Hillsborough County:

Video Tour: Top-rated Independent Living facilities in Hillsborough County, Florida.

Watch this Video to see Hillsborough County's Top-rated Senior Communities
Avg Walk Score: 38/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Hillsborough County, FL. 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: 200The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Hillsborough County, FL. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Independent Living around Hillsborough County

Info below is compiled from the FL Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

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

Sun Towers Retirement Community
IL
AL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Sun City Center
286
Facility 286
FL AVG 88
Rank #6 / 1058
No
54
Facility 54
FL AVG 40
Rank #448 / 1487
Sun City Center Associates, Ltd.(L.p.)
88
Facility 88
FL AVG 83
Rank #383 / 876
37
37.8%
Facility 37.8%
FL AVG 61.5%
Rank #201 / 907
43
Facility 43
FL AVG 33
Rank #646 / 907
1.2
Facility 1.2
FL AVG 1.3
Rank #446 / 907
For-ProfitHaley BaugussStudio / 1 Bed / 2 BedA+
Bayshore Presbyterian Apartments
IL
Tampa (Bayshore Gardens)
-No
71
Facility 71
FL AVG 40
Rank #203 / 1487
--------Studio / 1 Bed-
Freedom Plaza
IL
AL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Sun City Center (Arbors At Freedom Plaza)
113
Facility 113
FL AVG 88
Rank #358 / 1058
Yes
8
Facility 8
FL AVG 40
Rank #1302 / 1487
--------Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-
Osprey Heights Gracious Retirement Living
IL
Valrico
-No
19
Facility 19
FL AVG 40
Rank #1110 / 1487
--------Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-
Overview of Sun Towers Retirement Community

Set in a beautiful neighborhood in Hillsborough County, Sun City Center, FL, Sun Towers is an exceptional senior living community that offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and extended congregate care. The community offers a variety of studio one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, designed for comfort and living efficiency. Residents needing extra help with activities of daily living are met with compassionate care and assistance, provided by a kind and well-trained care team.

Tedious chores like housekeeping, meal preparation, and transportation are handled so residents don’t need to worry about keeping up with home maintenance, housework, and other responsibilities. Committed to giving residents plenty of opportunities for social engagement, the community allows residents to participate in various structured and unstructured on-site and off-site activities. Residents can look forward to three professionally prepared meals per day that are tailored specifically to their unique dietary needs, helping improve their health outcomes or manage chronic health conditions that they may have.

Contact Sun Towers Retirement Community

Overview of Bayshore Presbyterian Apartments

Make the most of your best years at Bayshore Presbyterian Apartments, a specially designed community in Tampa, FL, offering independent living. With cozy and sophisticated studio and one-bedroom floor plans, residents can find the accommodation that best matches their preferences. The community also features a 24-hour laundry center for residents’ convenience.

Thriving local amenities and leisure sites surround the area, providing residents with unending recreation and wellness opportunities. Residents also enjoy plenty of dining options with delightful restaurants and shops nearby. The community is equipped with a multipurpose room, a conference room, a TV room, a card room, and a library, ensuring residents can interact with friends without hassles.

Contact Bayshore Presbyterian Apartments

Freedom Plaza

1010 American Eagle Blvd, Sun City Center, FL 33573
Overview of Freedom Plaza

Located in Hillsborough County, Sun City Center, FL, Freedom Plaza is a multi-awarded senior living community that offers premiere assisted living, independent living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. The community offers an array of spacious, beautifully designed apartments with fully equipped kitchen, open-concept dining and living room area, ample closet space, and a private glass window-enclosed lanai. Residents enjoy 24/7 security, emergency response system, and a maintenance-free lifestyle with most of the chores handled by a dedicated team.

The community removes the distraction of everyday chores so residents can focus on living their lives to the fullest and engage in various activities and events that enrich their well-being. Residents can choose to participate in group fitness, including yoga and water fitness, and lifelong learning opportunities, such as arts and crafts. A wide array of indoor and outdoor amenities, such as a heated indoor pool, auditorium with dance floor, full-service salon and spa, 18-hole executive golf course and putting green, and tennis courts, provide ample opportunities for leisure and entertainment.

Contact Freedom Plaza

Overview of Osprey Heights Gracious Retirement Living

Burrowed in Hillsborough County, Valrico, FL, Osprey Heights Gracious Retirement Living is an intimate senior living community that offers independent living. Choose among over 40 unique studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts, each designed with seniors’ comfort and well-being in mind. Management teams live on-site and are available to residents throughout the day and when they need them, making sure all of their needs and concerts are met with quick response. The community seeks compassionate individuals who share their commitment to exceptional hospitality, ensuring their residents receive the very best when it comes to care.

An array of regularly conducted activities, including parties, exercise classes, and entertainment, foster an invigorating experience and meaningful social interactions that enrich residents’ lives. With three delicious chef-prepared meals and 24-hour bar for coffee, snacks, and fruits, residents are always happy and full. Plenty of delightful amenities, such as cozy common areas, movie theater, heated swimming pool, fitness center, salon, and activity room, encourages residents to explore and keep an active lifestyle.

Contact Osprey Heights Gracious Retirement Living

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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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in Hillsborough County, FL

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 4 independent living communities in Hillsborough County, FL. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in Hillsborough County, FL?

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 Hillsborough County, FL, 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 Hillsborough County, FL?

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.