Independent Living Communities in Decatur, Alabama

CaringScore for Decatur, AL

CaringScore was designed to help millions of Americans find the best places to retire, age in place, or receive eldercare. The CaringScore for independent living communities in Decatur was based on more than 50 factors in three key categories: health, cost, and livability. By compiling and analyzing this data, Caring.com is able to rate the quality of life you or a loved one might expect should you choose independent living communities in Decatur.

A CaringScore can range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and provides a quick way to compare cities, counties, and even specific zip codes. With a CaringScore of 5.4, Decatur is on par with the national average for those seeking independent living communities.

The charts below highlight a few of the factors we used to calculate the CaringScore for Decatur. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Decatur, AL

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Decatur, rates a region on a scale of 1 (less healthful) to 10 (more healthful). It's specifically tailored to anyone looking for independent living communities. The HealthScore for Decatur is based on the availability of healthcare resources, air and water quality, the overall health of the local population, and other key factors. With a HealthScore of 4.9, Decatur is on par with the national average for those seeking independent living communities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults. At just 177.8 physicians per capita, Decatur trails the national average by 19.4 percent. Decatur scores 30.8 percent better than the national average in geriatricians per capita, with 1.7, and scores 29.7 percent below the national average in specialists per capita, with 13.7. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Decatur is 75.9 years -- 2.6 percent lower than most of the country. The average life expectancy from birth in Decatur is 75.9 years -- 2.6 percent lower than most of the country. and water quality -- another key measure of Decatur's environmental health -- trails the national average by 45.5 percent.

Doctors Per Capita	Decatur, AL	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	177.8	220.5
Geriatricians	1.7	1.3
Cardiologists	4.3	7.7
Oncologists	0.9	3.5
Orthopedists	6.8	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Decatur, AL

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Decatur, rates the cost of living for older adults on a scale of 1 (more expensive) to 10 (less expensive). It's specifically tailored to people looking for independent living communities. The CostScore for Decatur is based on data such as the average monthly cost of independent living communities in the region, cost of living indices such as housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 7.4, the costs associated with independent living communities in Decatur are generally less expensive than the national average.

Because of the broad range of housing, service, and healthcare options available at independent living communities, no average monthly cost data is available for Decatur. The entry fee or purchase price for an independent living community can range from $50,000 to $500,000 or more, and typically requires an additional monthly service fee of $1,000 to $3,000 on average. The cost of living indices below provide the best proxy for comparing costs of independent living communities in Decatur to the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Decatur indexes at 10.0 percent lower than the national average. Average healthcare costs are 12.0 percent cheaper than the national average, and the cost of housing is 32.0 percent less expensive than average.

Cost of Living	Decatur, AL
Aggregate Index	90
Healthcare Index	88
Housing Index	68
Food Index	101
Utilities Index	99
Transportation Index	99

Cost of Healthcare Index

LivabilityScore for Decatur, AL

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Decatur. On a scale of 1 (less livable) to 10 (more livable), it's a rating of the quality of life in a region, specifically tailored to those looking for independent living communities. The LivabilityScore for Decatur is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 3.7, Decatur rates below average for independent living communities.

Weather is an important factor in choosing the best place for independent living communities. The sun shines an average of 204 days each year in Decatur, which is about average in the U.S. With an average temperature of 33°F in January, winters tend to be milder in Decatur than in other parts of the country, and summers are often hotter than other places, averaging 91°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Decatur is 25.0 percent higher than the national average, and the property crime rate is 100.0 percent higher than average. At $41,305 per year, the population of Decatur earns a lower than average median household income. Decatur has an unemployment rate of 8.50 percent, roughly equal to the national average. And about 14.92 percent of the population in Decatur is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which exceeds the national average by 13.4 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Decatur	"Nat'l Avg"
Parks	0	136.1
Libraries	5.2	18.8
Places of Worship	175.6	220.5
Public Transit	4.9	110.4
Grocery Stores	132.9	97.7
Pharmacies	24.8	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65