Page 2 of Best Independent Living in North Carolina

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 150 independent living communities in NC using NC Dept. of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in NC
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in North Carolina our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in North Carolina.
150 homes
Other senior care options in North Carolina:
Avg Walk Score: 35/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in North Carolina. 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: 70The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in North Carolina. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Independent Living around North Carolina

Info below is compiled from the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS), 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. HC (Home Care): Professional care delivered in the person's own home, from companionship to skilled nursing. CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community): A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
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.
Reported or derived occupancy for the facility—typically how fully licensed capacity is utilized. Compare across peers in the same market.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
NC DHSR Star Rating (0–4 stars). Issued by North Carolina's Division of Health Service Regulation based on annual facility inspections. Stars reflect overall compliance with state health and safety rules - 4 stars requires scores of 100+ on two consecutive annual inspections. Ratings can change between inspections if new violations or licensure actions occur.
DHSR Quality Score (/200). Each annual inspection starts at a base of 100 points. Facilities earn demerit points for violations and citations, and merit points for correcting issues, maintaining resident/family councils, sprinkler systems, and other quality programs. The "/200" display reflects the two most recent annual inspections combined - giving a longer-term view of compliance trends rather than a single snapshot.
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 deficiencies, expressed as a percentage of total inspections in the window.
Housing or bed configuration options (e.g. studio, shared), often from facility-reported amenities and licensing details.
Yadkin Valley Senior Living
IL
AL
RC
Elkin
60
Facility 60
NC AVG 70
Rank #214 / 368
No
60
Facility 60
NC AVG 35
Rank #65 / 508
55.0%
Facility 55.0%
NC AVG 69.5%
Rank #153 / 213
-
102.00/200
Facility 102.00/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #96 / 321
14
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
-
Waltonwood Lake Boone
IL
AL
MC
Raleigh
68
Facility 68
NC AVG 70
Rank #178 / 368
Yes
61
Facility 61
NC AVG 35
Rank #59 / 508
60.3%
Facility 60.3%
NC AVG 69.5%
Rank #139 / 213
-
94.50/200
Facility 94.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #224 / 321
5
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
-
Brightmore of South Charlotte
IL
AL
CCRC
MC
NH
SNF
Charlotte (Provincetowne)
34
Facility 34
NC AVG 70
Rank #304 / 368
Yes
12
Facility 12
NC AVG 35
Rank #417 / 508
35.3%
Facility 35.3%
NC AVG 69.5%
Rank #184 / 213
-
103.50/200
Facility 103.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #31 / 321
4
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
1 Bed / 2 Bed
Atria Southpoint Walk
IL
AL
RC
Durham (Crooked Creek)
20
Facility 20
NC AVG 70
Rank #312 / 368
Yes
59
Facility 59
NC AVG 35
Rank #70 / 508
--
103.50/200
Facility 103.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #31 / 321
8
88%
Facility 88%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #57 / 333
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Brookdale Carriage Club Providence
IL
AL
CCRC
MC
NH
SNF
Charlotte (Olde Providence North)
77
Facility 77
NC AVG 70
Rank #149 / 368
Yes
12
Facility 12
NC AVG 35
Rank #417 / 508
-A+
98.75/200
Facility 98.75/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #167 / 321
9
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Brookdale Robinwood
IL
AL
CCRC
HC
MC
NH
SNF
Gastonia
89
Facility 89
NC AVG 70
Rank #106 / 368
Yes
4
Facility 4
NC AVG 35
Rank #480 / 508
-A+
91.50/200
Facility 91.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #252 / 321
8
88%
Facility 88%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #57 / 333
Private Rooms / Semi-Private Rooms
Parkwood Village and The Landing
IL
AL
MC
Wilson (Westwood)
70
Facility 70
NC AVG 70
Rank #167 / 368
Yes
42
Facility 42
NC AVG 35
Rank #197 / 508
--
101.50/200
Facility 101.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #103 / 321
12
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
1 Bed / 2 Bed
Homestead Hills Assisted Living
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Winston-Salem
66
Facility 66
NC AVG 70
Rank #182 / 368
Yes
20
Facility 20
NC AVG 35
Rank #355 / 508
30.3%
Facility 30.3%
NC AVG 69.5%
Rank #194 / 213
-
103.50/200
Facility 103.50/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #31 / 321
7
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
-
Trinity Elms
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Clemmons
104
Facility 104
NC AVG 70
Rank #58 / 368
No
56
Facility 56
NC AVG 35
Rank #99 / 508
--
101.00/200
Facility 101.00/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #123 / 321
13
92%
Facility 92%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #97 / 333
-
Brookdale Carriage Club Providence II
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Charlotte
34
Facility 34
NC AVG 70
Rank #304 / 368
Yes
16
Facility 16
NC AVG 35
Rank #384 / 508
79.4%
Facility 79.4%
NC AVG 69.5%
Rank #92 / 213
-
103.00/200
Facility 103.00/200
NC AVG 92.2
Rank #69 / 321
6
100%
Facility 100%
NC AVG 91.8%
Rank #138 / 333
-

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every NC community we track that reports that metric, not just the 150 on this page. See how we rank facilities

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Yadkin Valley Senior Living

500 Johnson Ridge Road Elkin, Nc 28621, Elkin, NC 28621
Overview of Yadkin Valley Senior Living

Yadkin Valley Senior Living is a senior living community in Elkin, North Carolina, at 500 Johnson Ridge Road. The community offers assisted living and independent living, along with respite care for families who need short-term coverage. Its neighborhood carries a Walk Score of 60, described as moderately walkable, meaning some errands can be handled on foot with a mix of nearby amenities within reach.

The community is licensed for 60 beds and currently houses 33 residents, putting occupancy at 55 percent. That leaves meaningful room in the building, which can matter for families who need a placement without a long wait. A community of this size tends to sit between the intimacy of a small home and the broader activity calendar of a larger campus.

Care services include rehabilitation services and respite care, with licensed nurses and CNAs on staff. The respite option supports families managing a caregiver’s recovery, a planned absence, or a trial stay before committing to a longer arrangement. Rehabilitation services on site mean residents working through a recovery period can continue therapy without arranging outside transportation.

Activity programming runs at more than 14 hours of planned group activities each week. The schedule covers Bingo, exercise sessions, socials, craft projects, and outings away from the building.

State inspections of this community have surfaced themes around fire-safety systems, environmental and hazardous-materials safety, and housekeeping and upkeep. Families reviewing the community will find its regulatory record concentrated in that facilities-management area.

Contact Yadkin Valley Senior Living

Waltonwood Lake Boone

3560 Horton Street Raleigh, Nc 27607, Raleigh, NC 27607
Overview of Waltonwood Lake Boone

Waltonwood Lake Boone sits on Horton Street in Raleigh, about 3.2 miles out from the city center. Three levels of care operate here: independent living, assisted living, and memory care. A resident whose needs grow can move up a level without packing up and starting over somewhere new. For a lot of families, that single fact does most of the work.

The neighborhood earns a Walk Score of 61. Moderately walkable. Some errands are doable on foot, and there is a reasonable mix of things nearby. Drivers coming in from elsewhere in the Triangle will find it straightforward to reach.

the community is 68 beds, and 41 of them are filled. Occupancy at 60 percent tells you two things worth knowing. There is room right now, which is not always true of Raleigh communities. And a lighter census often means staff are stretched less thin across the floor.

Pets are welcome. That is not a small thing when someone is being asked to leave a house behind. Tours run every day of the week, 9:00am to 5:00pm, weekends included, so no one has to burn a vacation day to see the place. North Carolina inspectors have looked at medication management and at staffing and staff credentials here.

What Waltonwood Lake Boone offers is three care levels in one building, current availability, and a Raleigh address that keeps family visits short.

Contact Waltonwood Lake Boone

Overview of Brightmore of South Charlotte

Brightmore of South Charlotte is an exceptional retirement community that celebrates individuality and offers a full-service rental retirement home experience. Step into a vibrant atmosphere where beautifully designed independent living floor plans await, providing the perfect balance of comfort and independence. Brightmore is committed to accommodating diverse needs, offering a range of amenity options catering to residents seeking independent living, memory care units, and residential assisted living.

Indulge in distinctive dining experiences tailored to individual preferences and dietary needs. Immerse yourself in an array of amenities, including a library for literary adventures, an indoor heated pool for invigorating swims, and a beauty salon and barber for personal grooming. Brightmore also welcomes pets, ensuring that residents can cherish the companionship of their furry friends throughout their stay. With conveniences such as storage spaces, building elevators, concierge services, and 24-hour emergency response, every aspect of senior living is meticulously cared for.

Contact Brightmore of South Charlotte

Overview of Atria Southpoint Walk

Atria Southpoint Walk is a retirement community catering to independent and assisted living needs. It is Just a short distance from Old West Durham and just minutes away from the Duke University Golf Club. Atria Southpoint Walk places a strong focus on residents’ well-being and connections.

Experience a fulfilling and satisfying lifestyle within the community and its inviting surroundings. This assisted living community prides itself on amenities that enhance residents’ lives. Residents can shape their days according to their preferences with chef-prepared meals, a modern fitness center, a cinematic theater, and an enjoyable game room.

Contact Atria Southpoint Walk

Overview of Brookdale Carriage Club Providence

Experience an all-encompassing care at Brookdale Carriage Club Providence, an exceptional senior living community in Charlotte, NC, offering comprehensive levels of care and healthcare services. These include independent living, assisted living, and memory care, ensuring that residents receive the support they need while enjoying a fulfilling lifestyle. Here, residents can enjoy gatherings in the elegant, light-filled lobby or savor nutritious meals in the stately dining room. The community features a lakeside porch, a year-round pool, and various activities for relaxation and recreation. At Brookdale Carriage Club Providence, residents have access to a range of supportive services tailored to their needs.

The community offers short-term respite stays, ideal for those needing a temporary break or recovery after surgery. Skilled nursing care is available around the clock, along with physical, occupational, and speech therapy for recovery. For those requiring long-term skilled care, Brookdale provides a comfortable setting with professional nursing services. Additionally, transitional care helps residents transition from hospital to home, and hospice care is available through a network of preferred providers, ensuring consistent, high-quality support.

Contact Brookdale Carriage Club Providence

Overview of Brookdale Robinwood

Enjoy a hassle-free lifestyle at Brookdale Robinwood, a welcoming senior living community in Gastonia, North Carolina, offering assisted living. The community provides personalized assistance with daily tasks such as dressing and bathing, allowing residents to focus on enjoying their day. The cozy campus, designed for comfort and privacy, boasts excellent on-site amenities and a diverse social events calendar. Pet-friendly private apartments and inviting areas for socializing, dining, and entertaining enhance the living experience. At Brookdale Robinwood, residents benefit from a range of lifestyle services tailored to individual needs.

The community emphasizes health and wellness through activities like B-Fit fitness classes and Flex Your Brain exercises. With spacious private apartments featuring walk-in closets and large windows, residents enjoy a bright and welcoming atmosphere. A variety of activities, including art classes, trivia games, and yoga, foster a sense of camaraderie and engagement. Dining here is a delightful experience, with menus crafted from residents’ favorite recipes and seasonal ingredients, ensuring every meal is both healthy and enjoyable.

Contact Brookdale Robinwood

Overview of Parkwood Village and the Landing

Parkwood Village and the Landing offers assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Wilson, NC. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while a resident keeps a private apartment; independent living offers private housing with community services and no daily care, while memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering.

The community has 70 beds and offers one bedroom and two bedroom housing. A one bedroom layout suits one resident, while a two bedroom layout can accommodate a couple moving together, and having all three care settings in one community may suit a resident whose needs grow over time because moving to another care setting may not require leaving the community.

An area Walk Score of 42 places the community in a car dependent setting, so most errands require a car or a ride, including for a resident who no longer drives. Pets are allowed, which means a resident may be able to keep a pet in the community.

Contact Parkwood Village and The Landing

Homestead Hills Assisted Living

2101 Homestead Hills Drive Winston-Salem, Nc 27103, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Overview of Homestead Hills Assisted Living

Homestead Hills Assisted Living runs 66 beds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Right now about 20 of those beds are filled, which puts occupancy near 30 percent. For a family weighing placement, that low a figure cuts two ways. There is room to move in without a wait. It also means the building is running well under capacity, worth sitting with as you visit.

The setting is not a walkable one. With a Walk Score of 20, most trips out mean getting in a car. Plan visits around that.

Residents have access to rehabilitation services, respite stays for caregivers who need a break, and staffing that covers all 24 hours. Total nursing care runs about 5 hours and 17 minutes per resident each day, with licensed practical nurses adding close to an hour of that. Wellness programming, dining, concierge and salon services, housekeeping, and transportation fill out the day. An emergency call system runs around the clock.

State inspections have focused on standard operational ground: medication management, infection prevention, and fire-safety systems, rather than direct resident care. Medicare and private pay are both accepted here. The place suits an older adult who needs rehabilitation-minded care and steady daily help, and whose family does not mind a quieter building with beds to spare.

Contact Homestead Hills Assisted Living

Trinity Elms

3750 Harper Road Clemmons, Nc 27012, Clemmons, NC 27012
Overview of Trinity Elms

Trinity Elms is a 104-bed community at 3750 Harper Road in Clemmons, North Carolina. Accordius Health At Clemmons, LLC operates it. The building holds licensure for nursing home care, assisted living, independent living, memory care, and skilled nursing, which is a wide span for one address. A resident whose needs change does not necessarily have to move.

The surrounding area carries a Walk Score of 56, which places it in moderately walkable territory. Some errands work on foot, and some do not.

Short-term rehab and general rehabilitation services are both offered, alongside respite care for families managing a caregiving gap at home. The mix suggests a census divided between people recovering from a hospitalization and people who have settled in for longer stays.

Total nursing care runs four hours and six minutes per resident per day. Nurse aides account for two hours and 49 minutes of that, licensed practical nurses for 56 minutes, and registered nurses for 32 minutes.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted here, which covers the funding routes most families end up using. Trinity Elms is built for older adults who need skilled nursing or memory care, with enough licensure range that a change in condition does not automatically mean a change in address.

Contact Trinity Elms

Brookdale Carriage Club Providence II

5816 Old Providence Road Charlotte, Nc 28226, Charlotte, NC 28226
Overview of Brookdale Carriage Club Providence II

Brookdale Carriage Club Providence II is found on Old Providence Road in the southern part of Charlotte, North Carolina. This big home works as a place where old people can stay forever, which means that help with daily life and medical care are all offered in one spot. The area has a very low score for walking, so you should expect to use a car whenever you need to go to the store or see a doctor.

The part for people who need a lot of medical help is small with only 34 beds, and right now 27 of those beds are being used. For health needs, the home helps people get stronger after being sick and gives family members a break from taking care of their loved ones. Workers are there to help at all times of the day and night. Every building is easy to move through with a wheelchair and has a special button to push if there is a sudden problem.

You can find a pool outside, a room for exercise, a place to read books, and a small church right on the land. In the yard, the people living there can enjoy paths for walking, a garden, a spot for golf, and a small pond for catching fish. Rides to places, help with chores, a hair shop, and extra rooms for family to stay in are also provided, and everyone eats together like they are at a food shop; animals are allowed to live there too.

The main things that leaders look at in the records are how medicine is given, the plans for taking care of people, and the tools for stopping fires.

Living there without much help starts at $3,430 every month, but the price goes up if you need more help with your memory or your body. The reports show a small place with many fun things to do in a part of Charlotte where you must drive, but it has the good point of changing how it helps you as you get older.

Contact Brookdale Carriage Club Providence II

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
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in North Carolina

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 150 independent living communities in North Carolina. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in North Carolina?

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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina?

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.