Best Independent Living in Hillsborough County, FL

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 3 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
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Hillsborough County, FL our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Hillsborough County, FL.
3 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: 27/ 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.

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.
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.
Name of the licensed owner, operator, or managing entity as filed with the state. Useful for grouping facilities under the same organization.
A composite 0–100 score combining this facility's inspections, citations, complaints, and enforcement actions relative to the Florida state average. See the benchmark below for the typical Florida 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.
Share of inspections that resulted in citations, expressed as a percentage of total inspections in the window.
Total count of citations (cited regulatory issues) recorded in the selected reporting period. Read alongside inspection counts for context.
The average number of citations this facility receives each time it's inspected, calculated as total citations ÷ total inspections. A lower number suggests more consistent compliance with safety and care standards.
Reported profit orientation for the operator or facility (e.g. for-profit vs nonprofit), as provided in state licensing or disclosure data.
A named contact for the facility. Hover the name to see their role — Administrator (state administrator of record or facility-provided administrator), Nursing Director, Medical Director, or Staff. The most authoritative available is shown.
Housing or bed configuration options (e.g. studio, shared), often from facility-reported amenities and licensing details.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
Sun Towers Retirement Community
IL
AL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Sun City Center
286
Facility 286
FL AVG 88
Rank #6 / 1,058
No
54
Facility 54
FL AVG 42
Rank #449 / 1,427
Sun City Center Associates, Ltd.(L.p.)
89
Facility 89
FL AVG 83
Rank #400 / 901
37
38%
Facility 38%
FL AVG 61.5%
Rank #187 / 906
43
Facility 43
FL AVG 33
Rank #645 / 906
1.2
Facility 1.2
FL AVG 1.3
Rank #441 / 906
For-ProfitHaley BaugussStudio / 1 Bed / 2 BedA+
Freedom Plaza
IL
AL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Sun City Center (Arbors At Freedom Plaza)
113
Facility 113
FL AVG 88
Rank #357 / 1,058
Yes
8
Facility 8
FL AVG 42
Rank #1,301 / 1,427
--------Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-
Osprey Heights Gracious Retirement Living
IL
Valrico
-No
19
Facility 19
FL AVG 42
Rank #1,109 / 1,427
--------Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every FL community we track that reports that metric, not just the 3 analyzed for Hillsborough County.

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

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

Located on Lithia Pinecrest Road, Osprey Heights Gracious Retirement Living is a retirement community in Valrico, Florida, offering independent living. It also features studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans in a three-story setting, providing older adults the flexibility to choose a living space that best matches their preferences and lifestyle.

The surrounding neighborhood is car-dependent, so most errands and appointments require a vehicle. However, the residential setting may appeal to those who prefer a quieter environment away from busy commercial areas.

Interested families are encouraged to schedule an in-person tour to explore the available accommodations, learn about its programs and services, and gain a better understanding of daily life for residents.

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 3 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.