Page 14 of Best Independent Living in Iowa

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 226 independent living communities in IA using IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in IA
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We analyzed These are the facilities in Iowa our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Iowa.
226 homes
Other senior care options in Iowa:

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Info below is compiled from the IA Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL), 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.
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.
Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
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.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Inspection events categorized as complaint-related by the state regulator.
Count of incident-based investigations (e.g. reported events) in the regulatory record for the reporting period.
Chautauqua Guest Home #2 (11th St.)
IL
AL
NH
SNF
Charles City
46
Facility 46
IA AVG 76
Rank #121 / 165
No
77
Facility 77
IA AVG 43
Rank #21 / 222
-
50
Facility 50
IA AVG 15
Rank #4 / 131
82.6%
Facility 82.6%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #44 / 154
14
4
Facility 4
IA AVG 6
Rank #89 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
On With Life Long Term Care
IL
NH
SNF
Polk City
40
Facility 40
IA AVG 76
Rank #127 / 165
No
43
Facility 43
IA AVG 43
Rank #108 / 222
-
30
Facility 30
IA AVG 15
Rank #12 / 131
95.0%
Facility 95.0%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #9 / 154
16
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 6
Rank #77 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Birkwood Village of Fort Madison
IL
AL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Fort Madison
42
Facility 42
IA AVG 76
Rank #125 / 165
No--
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 15
Rank #115 / 131
69.0%
Facility 69.0%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #70 / 154
2
5
Facility 5
IA AVG 6
Rank #89 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Wellington Place
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Decorah
68
Facility 68
IA AVG 76
Rank #76 / 165
No
84
Facility 84
IA AVG 43
Rank #11 / 222
-
19
Facility 19
IA AVG 15
Rank #48 / 131
57.4%
Facility 57.4%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #79 / 154
5
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 6
Rank #38 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
HallMar Village
IL
AL
MC
NH
Cedar Rapids
55
Facility 55
IA AVG 76
Rank #108 / 165
No
4
Facility 4
IA AVG 43
Rank #215 / 222
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-
100.0%
Facility 100.0%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #50 / 154
24
7
Facility 7
IA AVG 6
Rank #104 / 155
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 1
Rank #119 / 155
Prairie Gate
IL
Council Bluffs (Kane Township)
36
Facility 36
IA AVG 76
Rank #147 / 165
Yes--
2
Facility 2
IA AVG 15
Rank #115 / 131
94.4%
Facility 94.4%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #13 / 154
3
7
Facility 7
IA AVG 6
Rank #111 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Whispering Creek Senior Living
IL
AL
MC
Sioux City
110
Facility 110
IA AVG 76
Rank #31 / 165
Yes-Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
16
Facility 16
IA AVG 15
Rank #55 / 131
-7
9
Facility 9
IA AVG 6
Rank #124 / 155
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 1
Rank #130 / 155
Chapters Living of Council Bluffs (ALP)
IL
AL
MC
NH
Council Bluffs (Kane Township)
36
Facility 36
IA AVG 76
Rank #147 / 165
No--
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 15
Rank #108 / 131
38.9%
Facility 38.9%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #132 / 154
3
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 6
Rank #21 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Meadowview of Davenport
IL
AL
MC
Davenport
156
Facility 156
IA AVG 76
Rank #11 / 165
Yes--
3
Facility 3
IA AVG 15
Rank #108 / 131
50.6% 2
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 6
Rank #1 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155
Edencrest at Timberline
IL
AL
MC
RC
Urbandale
120
Facility 120
IA AVG 76
Rank #25 / 165
Yes--
1
Facility 1
IA AVG 15
Rank #121 / 131
54.2%
Facility 54.2%
IA AVG 63.2%
Rank #84 / 154
1
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 6
Rank #1 / 155
0
Facility 0
IA AVG 1
Rank #1 / 155

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each independent living community is ranked against every other IA independent living community we track that reports that metric, not just the 226 on this page. See how we rank facilities

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Overview of HallMar Village

HallMar Village is a one-of-a-kind community in Cedar Rapids, IA, offering independent living. In collaboration with Mercy Medical Center, the community also offers assisted living and memory care to meet residents’ healthcare needs. Thoughtfully designed and spacious accommodations are provided in a nurturing and welcoming environment, so residents can feel at ease during their stay.

With a jam-packed calendar of enriching programs and stimulating activities, residents are encouraged to live actively and maintain social connections. Plenty of delectable and healthy dining options are also provided to meet residents’ dietary needs and preferences. The community’s comprehensive services and extensive amenities create the ideal setting for residents to enjoy their golden years without hassles.

Contact HallMar Village

Prairie Gate

16 Valley View Dr, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Overview of Prairie Gate

Prairie Gate is an independent living community in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care, so it suits residents who can manage everyday needs without hands-on assistance. With 36 beds, the community may be a good fit for someone who prefers a smaller setting where staff and residents can get to know one another.

Starting prices are $1,105 for a studio, $1,515 for a one-bedroom, $3,025 for a one-bedroom plus, $2,375 for a two-bedroom and $4,630 for a two-bedroom plus. A studio is one private space, while the one-bedroom and two-bedroom layouts provide a separate bedroom within the apartment, with rates varying by unit category. Pets are allowed, so residents can bring a pet when moving into the community.

There is a salon and spa, a fitness center and community walking trails. Residents have places on the property for grooming, exercise and walks, while private decks or patios are available in select apartments for those who want an outdoor area connected to their unit. Benjamin Eddy serves as the administrator.

Contact Prairie Gate

Overview of Whispering Creek Senior Living

Whispering Creek is a premier senior living community in Sioux City, Iowa, offering a variety of living options, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care services, all set in an elegant environment. The dedicated staff at Whispering Creek assists residents with daily living activities, allowing them to focus on their personal lives. With specialized knowledge in memory care services and therapies, the staff ensures residents’ needs are well met. 

Round-the-clock care is available to provide comfort and assistance, and the community boasts comfortable living spaces and a range of amenities. From a fitness center and outdoor courtyard to a spacious, naturally lit sitting area and dining room, there are plenty of convenient and recreational areas for residents to enjoy. Beyond physical well-being, the staff also takes care of intellectual, social, and emotional needs by organizing engaging group activities, fostering an active and vibrant community. Located conveniently close to neighborhood businesses and attractions, residents can easily run errands and attend personal appointments. Their thoughtfully designed campus provides a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring residents feel right at home.

Contact Whispering Creek Senior Living

Overview of Meadowview of Davenport

Meadowview of Davenport provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care in Davenport, IA. Independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care, while assisted living helps with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while the resident keeps an apartment. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone who may be at risk of wandering. Having all three care levels in one community can support a resident whose needs grow over time without requiring a move elsewhere.

The community has 156 beds, accommodating more residents, staff, and programming than a smaller setting. Restaurant-style dining gives residents meals served in a restaurant setting, and the salon and barber shop provide on-site grooming. Residents can spend time in the courtyard patio with fire pit, fireside lounge, and movie theater, while arts and crafts rooms support creative activities. The fitness center, therapy and fitness support, mobile library, and permission to keep pets add options for exercise, therapy, reading, and companionship, and Sarah Coy serves as the administrator.

Contact Meadowview of Davenport

Overview of Chautauqua Guest Home #2 (11th St.)

Chautauqua Guest Home #2 provides skilled nursing care from its 53-bed property at 602 Eleventh Street in Charles City, Iowa. Managed by administrator Misty Hobert under owner David Ayers, the facility usually runs at about 83 percent occupancy. Families can handle regular bills through private out-of-pocket payments, standard Medicare, or state Medicaid programs. Stays here average around 409 days, which shows the building blends short-term physical rehabilitation for people coming out of the hospital with traditional, extended nursing care.

Residents get an average of 4 hours and 9 minutes of hands-on attention from the floor nursing staff every day. Certified nursing assistants cover the largest share of this time at 2 hours and 58 minutes, while registered nurses add 53 minutes and licensed practical nurses provide 25 minutes of clinical oversight. This team handles daily treatments and medication schedules, while the surrounding neighborhood scores a 77 out of 100 for walkability, making it easy for visiting family members to take care of local errands on foot.

Recent state surveys noted a few areas that needed improvement, specifically regarding food safety protocols and pain medication administration lines, which the management team corrected. Local supervisors use these state reports to update floor routines and keep continuing education programs current for the staff.

Families looking into local care options can call the front desk to check on open room availability, ask about the rehabilitation setup, or schedule a time to look around the facility.

Contact Chautauqua Guest Home #2 (11th St.)

Overview of Birkwood Village of Fort Madison

Birkwood Village of Fort Madison in Fort Madison, Iowa, offers a continuum of senior care that spans independent living, assisted living, memory care, nursing home services, skilled nursing, and short-term respite stays. Independent living provides private accommodations paired with community amenities, whereas assisted living assists residents with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and managing medication. Supervised, secured spaces are designated for memory care, while respite stays give regular family caregivers temporary relief.

Led by administrator Brenda Graham, the 42-bed community delivers an average of 4 hours and 9 minutes of direct daily nursing care per resident. Short-term rehabilitation therapy and skilled nursing services aid in post-illness or post-hospital recovery. Dining services feature made-to-order breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus with alternative options for resident preferences, alongside access to outdoor gathering areas.

Older adults looking for flexible senior living arrangements or recovery options can reach out to Birkwood Village of Fort Madison to check current room availability, discuss financial plans, or schedule a campus tour. Financial options include Medicare, Medicaid, and direct private payment.

Contact Birkwood Village of Fort Madison

Overview of Wellington Place

Wellington Place offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing in Decorah, IA. Independent living means a resident has a private living space with community services but no daily care, while assisted living provides help with tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while the resident keeps an apartment. Memory care is a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering, and skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

Multiple care levels on one campus may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since moving between levels does not require leaving the community. The campus also provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, including short term rehabilitation for someone recovering after an illness, injury, or hospital stay. Wellington Place has 68 beds, and Mary Miller serves as the administrator.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families payment routes for covered or privately funded care. Total nurse staffing is 4h 38m per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nursing time allocated to each resident. With a Walk Score of 84, the area is very walkable, so most errands can be completed on foot and a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently.

Contact Wellington Place

Overview of Chapters Living of Council Bluffs (alp)

Chapters Living of Council Bluffs (alp) offers assisted living, independent living, memory care, and nursing care in Council Bluffs, IA. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care, while assisted living adds help with tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering, and nursing care provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. With several care levels in one community, Chapters Living of Council Bluffs (alp) may be a good fit for a resident whose needs could grow over time without requiring a move to another community.

The community has 36 beds, creating a smaller setting where staff and residents can get to know each other. Chef prepared meals are provided, and the beauty salon and barber shop let residents take care of grooming within the community. Residents can join exercise classes, Bible studies, music, crafts, and game nights, while rehabilitation services are also available. Mike Steinkruger serves as the administrator, and the community is in the Kane Township neighborhood.

Contact Chapters Living of Council Bluffs (ALP)

Overview of Edencrest at Timberline

Edencrest at Timberline offers assisted living, independent living, memory care, and respite care in Urbandale, IA. The community has 120 beds. Independent living provides private living without daily care, while assisted living adds help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision, and respite care offers a short stay when a usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

With several care levels in one community, Edencrest at Timberline may be a good fit for a resident whose needs could grow over time and who may be able to move to a different level of care without leaving the community. Starting prices are $2,900 for independent living, $2,900 for assisted living, and $5,600 for memory care, giving families a separate entry point for each care level.

Transportation options and outings give residents ways to participate in activities beyond their apartment, while outdoor gardens and patios provide outdoor areas on the property. A fitness center, health classes, salon, and spa room support exercise, learning, grooming, and spa services without requiring residents to leave for those activities. Pets are allowed, so a resident may bring a pet when moving in.

Geoff Counasse serves as the administrator.

Contact Edencrest at Timberline

Overview of On with Life Long Term Care

On with Life Long Term Care provides nursing home care, skilled nursing, and independent living in Polk City, IA. Nursing home and skilled nursing care include licensed nursing on site around the clock, while independent living offers private living without daily care. With 40 beds, the community is small enough for staff and residents to get to know each other.

Neuro rehabilitation includes inpatient post acute care, outpatient care, residential neuro rehabilitation, day services, and neuropsychological services. These programs support people recovering from brain injury, stroke, concussion, Parkinson’s disease, or spinal cord injury, with care available through inpatient, outpatient, residential, and day based services. Short term rehabilitation and respite care are also available, offering recovery stays or temporary care when a usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

Staffing is available around the clock. The 95% occupancy rate means most beds are occupied at a given time, so availability may matter when considering a move. A Walk Score of 43 places the area in a car dependent setting, meaning most errands require a car or a ride; someone who no longer drives would generally need transportation for those trips.

Jeni Lewis serves as the administrator. The combination of neuro rehabilitation, short term rehabilitation, respite care, and long term skilled care may suit someone whose recovery or care needs require different lengths of stay.

Contact On With Life Long Term Care

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 Iowa at a glance

Avg Walk Score: 43/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Iowa. 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: 76The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Iowa. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in Iowa

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 226 independent living communities in Iowa. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

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

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 Iowa, 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 Iowa?

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.