Page 17 of Best Independent Living in Wisconsin

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 200 independent living communities in WI using WI Dept. of Health Services (DHS) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in WI
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We analyzed These are the facilities in Wisconsin our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Wisconsin.
200 homes
Other senior care options in Wisconsin:
Overview of Berkshire Grafton

Berkshire Grafton promotes an active senior living lifestyle at its finest. The staff encourages residents to take part in enriching and engaging activities that cultivate their personal growth during their golden years. The residential community offers a home-like atmosphere that can provide all the essential benefits for its residents, as they make it a point to enhance the lifestyle of every resident and elevate their daily living. 

As a member of the Berkshire Community senior living group, the apartment-style complex has well-curated accommodations that encourage residents to thrive. The residential home provides comprehensive services such as scheduled housekeeping and transportation, resident-centered enrichment programs, an on-site nurse available 24/7, well-balanced daily meals, ADLs, wheelchair-accessible features, and a recreational room.

Contact Berkshire Grafton

Overview of Sienna Crest Assisted Living – Waunakee

Catering to those who require extra support with their daily routines, Sienna Crest Assisted Living – Waunakee is a remarkable community in Waunakee, WI that provides assisted living. Residents here enjoy the support from an excellent care team available 24/7 to accommodate their unique needs. The community prioritizes residents’ preferences and autonomy while ensuring they receive the care they need in their daily lives.

Each day is a chance to relax, make new connections, or discover new hobbies with a full range of Life Enhancement activities available. Mealtimes are also to look forward to with fresh and nutritious meals packed with nutrients and flavor. At Sienna Crest Assisted Living – Waunakee, everyone is given the opportunity and comfort they need to make the most of their golden years.

Contact Sienna Crest Assisted Living – Waunakee

Overview of Capitol Lakes

Capitol Lakes is a trusted continuing care retirement community in Madison, WI, that offers comprehensive care options, including assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. With its nurturing and home-like environment, the community guarantees a comfortable and safe retirement for older adults and those with cognitive conditions. Residents also have a maintenance-free lifestyle, as three nutritious meals daily, weekly housekeeping, and medication management are also provided. The community strives to meet residents’ unique needs and preferences through its purposefully designed spaces and personalized care plans.

Aqua movement classes, music programs, and social events provide residents with more opportunities to explore new hobbies and connect with friends. Art galleries featuring local artists and residents’ works, an indoor pool, and a beautiful garden are among the state-of-the-art utilities dedicated to residents’ leisure and wellness. Set in the peaceful residential area of Madison, near the Wisconsin State Capitol and public transportation, the community guarantees accessibility and convenience. As a great choice for senior living in Wisconsin, this retirement community ensures older adults can age in place.

Contact Capitol Lakes

Overview of The Harbor at State and Main

Situated in downtown Racine, Wisconsin, The Harbor at State and Main serves active adults aged 55 and older. The community targets individuals who handle their own daily tasks and prefer an independent lifestyle free from personal care services.

Living options consist of one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans, giving couples the option to share a larger space. Pets are welcome in the building, and the surrounding area features easy access to local shops, galleries, eateries, parks, and waterfront marinas. Given the walk score of 83, residents can manage most everyday trips on foot without needing a personal vehicle.

Individuals interested in learning more or visiting the property can reach out to the management team to ask questions and schedule a visit.

Contact The Harbor at State and Main

Edison School

5372 N 37Th St, Milwaukee, WI 53209
Overview of Edison School

In Milwaukee’s Old North neighborhood, the historic North Milwaukee High School—built in 1924—has been imaginatively repurposed as Edison School Apartments, a 75-unit affordable senior living community for individuals 55 and older. This adaptive reuse project preserves the building’s architectural integrity, maintaining such features as original wood windows and terrazzo floors, while adding modern amenities to meet contemporary living needs. The building is a testament to the way in which the community wants to respect the past but meet present housing needs.

Residents have access to a range of amenities that are designed for comfort and convenience, including in-unit washer and dryer, energy-efficient appliances, and facilities that are ADA-accessible. Shared space features a fitness center, community room, and community gardens, all of which encourage social interaction and a sense of community. Within walking distance to neighborhood restaurants and shops, Edison School Apartments enables older adults to remain at home and age in place.

Contact Edison School

Overview of Woodside Senior Communities

Woodside Senior Communities in Green Bay is structured as a multi-program operation. Six distinct residences sit within the same organization: the Lutheran Home, Manor, Villa, Oaks, Haven, and an income-based independent living program. Residents can shift between care levels without getting uprooted entirely. The neighborhood scores a Walk Score of 56, which means some errands work on foot and some don’t.

The income-based independent living designation stands out. Most senior living communities bury their financial structures or work things out on a case-by-case basis. Woodside has built affordability into the framework itself, which is a different approach altogether.

On-site rehabilitation exists within the context of nursing-level care. Nurse aides clock 3 hours and 26 minutes per resident daily. RNs add 1 hour and 23 minutes. LPNs and LVNs contribute 34 minutes.

What you’re looking at is an organization built to hold different people in different conditions without making them leave. The financial model assumes that not everyone can pay market rate, and they’ve structured for that assumption. It’s neither a lifestyle amenity operation nor a minimal-care facility. It’s a working clinical environment designed to accommodate actual variation in what people need and what they can afford.

Contact Woodside Senior Communities

Overview of Parkside

Located at 2234 Luann Ln in Madison’s Leopold neighborhood, Parkside is an independent living community for adults 55 and older. The facility offers one-bedroom and two-bedroom residential units. Madison’s city center lies 3.5 miles distant; Planned Parenthood Madison South Health Center is 1.19 miles away.

Parkside operates as a private-pay community without Medicare or Medicaid certification. The community provides activity-based programming centered on wellness and social engagement. Residents access BINGO, a therapy pool, fitness classes, rehabilitation services, and an organized walking club. These offerings reflect a model built around active lifestyle and peer interaction rather than personal care assistance.

The Walk Score is 49, placing the community 232nd of 581 Wisconsin senior facilities. This score means a few nearby services are reachable on foot, but most shopping, dining, and errands require transportation. The neighborhood is car-dependent for broader community access.

The community describes its approach as holistic wellness, emphasizing resident autonomy, support, and participation in a structured social environment. The facility does not provide medical staffing or personal care oversight; it is positioned solely for independent-living older adults who manage their own activities of daily living and medications.

Parkside fits older adults seeking an independent living residential setting with organized social activities and wellness programming, without medical care or personal assistance.

Contact Parkside

Overview of Cedar Community – Cedar Ridge Campus

Cedar Community, Cedar Ridge Campus is a continuing care retirement community in West Bend, WI, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, and skilled nursing. Independent living provides a private home with community services and no daily care, while assisted living adds help with tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while the resident keeps an apartment. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering.

Nursing home and skilled nursing care provide licensed nursing on site around the clock. Several care levels are available here, so the community can suit a resident whose needs grow over time without requiring a move to a different community. That range may be especially relevant for someone who wants to remain on one campus as care needs change.

Cedar Community, Cedar Ridge Campus is a faith based senior living community with studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom residences. A studio is a single private space. A two bedroom layout can suit a couple moving together, giving each person room within the same residence.

The community’s specific programs include Lifestyle & Service Options and Community Calendars. Its Memorial Garden provides an on site place for remembrance.

Contact Cedar Community – Cedar Ridge Campus

Overview of Ridgeview Highlands Apartments & Townhomes 55+

Designed for adults aged 55 and older, Ridgeview Highlands Apartments & Townhomes 55+ is an independent living community in Appleton, Wisconsin, about 2.1 miles from the city center. The three-story community offers one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments ranging from about 689 to 1,365 square feet, giving residents several options to match their space needs. The community also welcomes pets, so residents can bring a companion animal when they move in.

Residents live independently in private apartments while enjoying on-site amenities, dining, and social activities. Staff handles many of the routine responsibilities of home upkeep, so residents can spend less time on household chores. Transportation services are also available, which can be especially helpful for residents who no longer drive or prefer not to.

Recreational activities, fitness programs, and entertainment events help residents stay active and connected. Shared amenities such as the library, media room, and social spaces provide places for residents to gather without leaving the community. Together, these features support an active lifestyle while allowing residents to remain close to home.

The area is moderately walkable with a Walk Score of 62 out of 100. Some errands and nearby amenities can be reached on foot, but a car is still useful for many trips. Families considering Ridgeview Highlands Apartments & Townhomes 55+ may be pleased to find a combination of private living, planned activities, and a neighborhood that has some walkable amenities.

Contact Ridgeview Highlands Apartments & Townhomes 55+

Overview of Eden Vista of Green Bay

Eden Vista of Green Bay offers assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Green Bay, WI, in the Allouez neighborhood. Assisted living provides help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication while residents retain private living spaces. Independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care, while memory care provides a supervised, secured setting for someone who may be at risk of wandering. Having these care levels together can suit a resident whose needs may grow over time without requiring a move to a different community.

Private rooms give each resident a single private space. Outdoor courtyards provide places for social gatherings and strolls, and restaurant-style dining gives meals a restaurant-style setting. Fitness programming includes scheduled exercise activities, with salon and spa services available on site. Transportation is available for residents who need rides beyond the community. A Walk Score of 48 places the area where most errands require a car or a ride, so a resident who no longer drives would need transportation for those trips. Eden Vista of Green Bay may be a good fit for someone who wants private living space with access to multiple care levels as needs change.

Contact Eden Vista of Green Bay

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 Wisconsin at a glance

Avg Walk Score: 43/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Wisconsin. 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: 58The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Wisconsin. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in Wisconsin

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

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

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 Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin?

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.