Page 2 of Best Independent Living in Maine

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 72 independent living communities in ME using ME Dept. of Health & Human Services (DHHS) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in ME
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Maine our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Maine.
72 homes
Other senior care options in Maine:
Avg Walk Score: 36/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Maine. 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: 20The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Maine. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Independent Living around Maine

Info below is compiled from the ME Dept. of Health & Human Services (DHHS), 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. RESC (Residential Care): Personal care and daily-living support in a smaller, more intimate residential setting. 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.
Reported or derived occupancy for the facility—typically how fully licensed capacity is utilized. Compare across peers in the same market.
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.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
How many inspections had one or more deficiencies recorded. Compare to total inspections to see how often problems were found on visit.
Total count of deficiencies (cited regulatory issues) recorded in the selected reporting period. Read alongside inspection counts for context.
The average number of deficiencies this facility receives each time it's inspected, calculated as total deficiencies ÷ total inspections. A lower number suggests more consistent compliance with safety and care standards.
Schooner Estates Senior Living
IL
AL
MC
RESC
Auburn
26
Facility 26
ME AVG 20
Rank #89 / 356
Yes
17
Facility 17
ME AVG 36
Rank #239 / 357
Studio 73.1% John S Rice2
0
Facility 0
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #1 / 237
2
Facility 2
ME AVG 3
Rank #129 / 237
1.0
Facility 1.0
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #114 / 237
Atria Kennebunk
IL
AL
MC
Kennebunk
74
Facility 74
ME AVG 20
Rank #31 / 356
Yes
51
Facility 51
ME AVG 36
Rank #104 / 357
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-Jessica Goodell2
0
Facility 0
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #1 / 237
0
Facility 0
ME AVG 3
Rank #1 / 237
0.0
Facility 0.0
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #1 / 237
Woodlands Senior Living of Waterville
IL
AL
MC
Waterville
58
Facility 58
ME AVG 20
Rank #45 / 356
No
15
Facility 15
ME AVG 36
Rank #251 / 357
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed 96.6% Renee Hanscom15
3
Facility 3
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #225 / 237
4
Facility 4
ME AVG 3
Rank #180 / 237
0.3
Facility 0.3
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #97 / 237
One Willow Manor
IL
AL
South Portland (Ferry Village)
6
Facility 6
ME AVG 20
Rank #133 / 356
No
43
Facility 43
ME AVG 36
Rank #140 / 357
Private Rooms 33.3% Orane Walsh1
1
Facility 1
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #128 / 237
2
Facility 2
ME AVG 3
Rank #129 / 237
2.0
Facility 2.0
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #159 / 237
Park Residences of Waterville
IL
AL
MC
Waterville
38
Facility 38
ME AVG 20
Rank #66 / 356
No
15
Facility 15
ME AVG 36
Rank #251 / 357
Private Rooms / Semi-Private Rooms 94.7% Renee Hanscom2
2
Facility 2
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #206 / 237
7
Facility 7
ME AVG 3
Rank #209 / 237
3.5
Facility 3.5
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #205 / 237
Anson Street
IL
Farmington
5
Facility 5
ME AVG 20
Rank #173 / 356
No
68
Facility 68
ME AVG 36
Rank #53 / 357
- 80.0% -1
1
Facility 1
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #128 / 237
1
Facility 1
ME AVG 3
Rank #96 / 237
1.0
Facility 1.0
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #114 / 237
Sentry Hill at York Harbor
IL
AL
MC
RC
York (York Harbor)
54
Facility 54
ME AVG 20
Rank #49 / 356
No
35
Facility 35
ME AVG 36
Rank #170 / 357
--Sara Ann Johnson1
1
Facility 1
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #1 / 237
4
Facility 4
ME AVG 3
Rank #180 / 237
4.0
Facility 4.0
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #206 / 237
The Cedars Portland
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Portland (North Deering)
-No
49
Facility 49
ME AVG 36
Rank #113 / 357
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed--5
5
Facility 5
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #235 / 237
26
Facility 26
ME AVG 3
Rank #235 / 237
5.2
Facility 5.2
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #221 / 237
Montello Heights
IL
AL
Lewiston
80
Facility 80
ME AVG 20
Rank #22 / 356
Yes
16
Facility 16
ME AVG 36
Rank #245 / 357
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-Michele Carey1
1
Facility 1
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #128 / 237
10
Facility 10
ME AVG 3
Rank #218 / 237
10.0
Facility 10.0
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #234 / 237
Montello Heights Retirement Community
IL
AL
Lewiston
80
Facility 80
ME AVG 20
Rank #22 / 356
Yes
23
Facility 23
ME AVG 36
Rank #206 / 357
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-Michele Carey1
1
Facility 1
ME AVG 0.7
Rank #128 / 237
10
Facility 10
ME AVG 3
Rank #218 / 237
10.0
Facility 10.0
ME AVG 0.2
Rank #234 / 237

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every ME community we track that reports that metric, not just the 72 on this page.

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Overview of Schooner Estates Senior Living

Located in the heart of Maine, Schooner Estates Senior Living is an assisted living community in Auburn. The assisted living and memory care home offers a stimulating and engaging environment where residents thrive and be better versions of themselves. Management and staff are dedicated to accommodating everyone on their mental and physical abilities. Many services center on personalized care that focuses on comfort and comprehensive care. Schooner Estates is a social, safe, and fun community where residents are encouraged to be enriched.

The staff ensures everything is conveniently provided for seniors, making it a point that they just sit back and relax. Community amenities are maintenance-free, so residents can enjoy seamless access to living spaces like a lounge room, fitness center, and dining area. Other services include essential housekeeping, laundry, and transportation.

Contact Schooner Estates Senior Living

Overview of Atria Kennebunk

Atria Kennebunk offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care. They undoubtedly provide the highest quality of care. Management makes it a point that seniors are given the freedom and choice given to each resident and ensures that they attend to the unique needs of each individual with kindness and compassion. They understand that an enriching senior living experience begins with the right lifestyle that suits your needs– while encouraging residents to still live freely on their own terms while receiving the necessary support. Atria Kennebunk has been one of the trailblazers in reinventing the approach to senior living– modern and innovative care. 

Atria Kennebunk is a branch of the renowned Atria senior living group. Rest assured that residents are able to experience their array of amenities such as a garden, a salon, and a cafe bistro; along with services such as transportation, housekeeping, and laundry– to name a few of the features that residents from both living options get unlimited access. 

Contact Atria Kennebunk

Overview of Woodlands Senior Living of Waterville

Resting gracefully in Waterville, Maine, Woodlands Senior Living of Waterville is a flourishing community that has held its place as the premier retirement destination in central Maine since 1996. Spread across a spacious campus, this community offers a plethora of care options for seniors, including assisted living with memory care, along with independent living private homes. With meticulous design and architecture, every facet of this community has been carefully considered to ensure a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

With a focus on providing top-notch care, they offer various apartment layouts for independent living, ranging from studios to one and two-bedroom units. For those in need of assisted living or memory care, private and shared rooms are available, ensuring a personalized and supportive environment. With round-the-clock availability of their carefully selected staff, this community is dedicated to ensuring the well-being and comfort of its residents. Woodlands Senior Living of Waterville is committed to offering a comprehensive range of care solutions and accepts both private pay and MaineCare.

Contact Woodlands Senior Living of Waterville

Overview of One Willow Manor

Introducing One Willow Manor, a senior community conveniently nestled within the heart of Downtown South Portland, Maine. This assisted living community caters to various service types, including Independent Living and Retirement Home options. In addition, their compassionate team extends round-the-clock support for activities of daily living, encompassing personal care and medication management. Conveniently situated in close proximity to retail shopping, places of worship, medical services, and a plethora of local amenities, One Willow Manor truly enriches the lives of its residents.

Numerous churches stand within a four-mile radius, and an abundance of drug stores are situated within a mile of the facility. Notably, the community is strategically positioned just 1.28 miles away from Mercy Hospital, further ensuring residents’ peace of mind regarding medical care. Within the nurturing environment of One Willow Manor, residents are presented with a diverse array of living arrangements. This unique approach empowers each individual to select the precise level of care and assistance suited to their distinct requirements. This adaptable framework enables senior adults to preserve their autonomy and self-sufficiency, all the while taking solace in the assurance that assistance is perpetually accessible if needed.

Contact One Willow Manor

Overview of Park Residences of Waterville

At 141 W River Rd in Waterville, Maine, Renee Hanscom administers a 38-bed community offering assisted living, independent living, and memory care under one roof. The two-story building has private and semi-private rooms, and it sits in a car-dependent pocket of town (Walk Score 15). Getting around the neighborhood on foot isn’t really the plan here; most errands call for a drive.

Occupancy tells its own story: 36 of the 38 beds are filled, a 95% rate that points to steady local demand. For a community this size, that’s close to full.

Daily life leans on restaurant-style dining and shared living areas built for conversation and company. Outside, there are landscaped grounds and gardens; inside, a library and an in-house salon and barber shop. Housekeeping, an emergency call system, scheduled transportation, and a regular activities calendar fill out the rest, backed by staff around the clock.

Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services, through its Division of Licensing and Certification, inspects the facility periodically. Those inspections have tended to center on medication management and how well care plans are documented.

Park Residences of Waterville suits a family looking for assisted living or memory care in a smaller, established setting, one where transportation is handled for you and a car in the driveway matters more than a walk down the block.

Contact Park Residences of Waterville

Overview of Anson Street

Anson Street is a blissful haven set in the tree-lined neighborhood of Farmington, ME, that offers assisted living. Here, residents can ease their worries with top-notch support for their daily living activities and household responsibilities around the clock. The community also ensures residents’ comfort and convenience with medication management and incontinence care.

Residents can make new friends and gain meaningful experiences with plenty of fun activities and enriching programs based on their interests and capabilities. Delicious and healthy meals are also served to meet residents’ dietary needs and preferences. With transportation services and parking spaces, residents can travel conveniently. Promoting an inviting and supportive environment, the community is ideal for those needing assistance to make the most of their best years.

Contact Anson Street

Overview of Sentry Hill at York Harbor

Sentry Hill at York Harbor is an excellent senior living community, settled in York, ME, offering various senior living options, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. Residents experience a worry-free lifestyle with on-site maintenance personnel, monthly housekeeping and free laundry rooms being offered. The community features comfortable and spacious private and semi-private suites, providing comfortable living spaces that match residents’ unique needs.

The community is dedicated to providing its residents with a meaningful lifestyle through a well-curated calendar of activities, enrichment programs, and plentiful amenities. Emergency call systems and 24/7 professional team members are available to make sure residents have access to assistance when they need it. Residents enjoy the convenience of transportation services, laundry, and housekeeping services to ensure residents have plenty of free time for relaxation and enjoyment.

Contact Sentry Hill at York Harbor

Overview of The Cedars Portland

Located in the bright and peaceful residential area of Ocean Avenue, Portland, ME, The Cedars goes above and beyond to deliver assisted living, independent living, memory care, skilled nursing, and short-term rehabilitation for residents to have the finest retirement. The community values residents’ privacy, providing a wide selection of cozy and well-designed floor plans to foster comfort and familiarity. With its long history of exceptional care and assistance since 1929, The Cedars continuously provides a safe place for residents to flourish and experience meaningful things.

Combining the utmost comfort and medical expertise, the community ensures residents’ needs and aspirations are well-cared for. As a non-profit community, The Cedars strives to provide accessible and up-to-date care to enjoy every moment of their best years.

Contact The Cedars Portland

Overview of Montello Heights

Montello Heights Retirement Community is an independent living and assisted living home for seniors in Lewiston where a balanced lifestyle of comfort and calmness is met with full support. Residents of the community are encouraged to have a strong sense of freedom with no shame of being able to receive additional assistance.

Montello’s lifestyle is easy and worry-free. Residents can live a fulfilling everyday life through the community’s extensive services. Their amenities and services include laundry, transportation, healthy and savory chef-prepared meals, social activities, and fitness activities.

Contact Montello Heights

Overview of Montello Heights Retirement Community

Situated at the beautifully landscaped grounds at Lewiston, ME, Montello Heights Retirement Community is an ideal senior living community that offers affordable independent living and assisted living options. With their 24-hour nursing services, residents and their families can rest easy knowing that their loved ones are well-supported and living a comfortable life within a community that protects residents’ freedom and dignity while receiving additional assistance.

Montello Heights deeply values its residents’ comfort and convenience and ensures they get the support they need to live an easy life. Residents enjoy a host of amenities and services, including laundry, transportation, social activities, and fitness activities. The community also takes pride in providing savory chef-prepared meals that taste just like home-cooked meals and are tailored to accommodate special diets for those with low-sodium and diabetic needs.

Contact Montello Heights Retirement Community

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.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in Maine

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

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

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 Maine, 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 Maine?

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.