Report: 3 Pennsylvania cities among the most affordable for senior housing

The report from online directory Seniorly found that Johnstown, Scranton, and McKeesport are among the 25 U.S. cities with the lowest monthly assisted living costs, while Pennsylvania ranks in the middle of the pack among states.

According to the U.S. Census, nearly 58 million Americans are now aged 65 or older, a whopping 17.3% of the population, leading to a record-high demand for senior housing.

Senior housing occupancy reached 84.4% in late 2023, and while that level is just below the pre-pandemic rate of 87.1%, it rose for the ninth quarter in a row, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care. The steady increase means that demand is now outpacing supply – and that rent and other costs are also on the rise for assisted living communities.

A recent study from online senior living directory Seniorly found that average assisted living costs were $4,401 per month in 2023 across the U.S., an 8% increase from $4,057 in 2021. Between 2021 and 2023, assisted living costs rose in 30 states, fell in 15 states and remained relatively flat in six states, meaning average monthly rent rose or fell by less than $90 per month.

According to the Seniorly study, Pennsylvania ranks in the middle of the pack among states, coming in at 24 with an average monthly cost of $4,190, a couple hundred dollars less than the national average. That represents a 14% increase from 2021 when the average monthly cost was $3,672

New Hampshire was the most expensive state ($8,248), while Louisiana was the least expensive ($2,946).

Seniorly found that seven Pennsylvania cities were among the 200 most affordable, with three among the top 25. Johnstown came in at 10 with an average monthly cost of $2,749, Scranton was 23rd ($3,053), and McKeesport 25th ($3,062).

Other Pa. cities in the top 200 include Williamsport at 34 ($3,166), Kittanning at 35 ($3,171), Pittsburgh at 68 ($3,354), and Greensburg at 157 ($3,797).

The assisted living cost averages and rankings were derived from Seniorly 2023 move-in data from across the company’s network of 60,000 senior living communities, along with the company’s pricing estimator algorithm, similar to real estate website Zillow’s Zestimate. You can find out more about Seniorly’s pricing estimates here.