Independent Living Communities in Summit, New Jersey

CaringScore for Summit, NJ

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 Summit 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 Summit.

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 5.2, Summit 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 Summit. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Summit, NJ

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Summit, 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 Summit 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 5.8, Summit rates above average for those seeking independent living communities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults seeking independent living communities. At 225.4 physicians per capita, Summit closely matches the national average. Summit scores about average in geriatricians per capita, with 1.3, and scores 21.0 percent better than the national average in specialists per capita, with 23.6. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Summit is 79.2 years -- 1.7 percent higher than most of the country. The average life expectancy from birth in Summit is 79.2 years -- 1.7 percent higher than most of the country. and water quality -- another key measure of Summit's environmental health -- trails the national average by 76.4 percent.

Doctors Per Capita	Summit, NJ	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	225.4	220.5
Geriatricians	1.3	1.3
Cardiologists	9.7	7.7
Oncologists	4.9	3.5
Orthopedists	7.6	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Summit, NJ

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Summit, 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 Summit is based on data such as the average monthly cost of independent living communities in the region, the cost of housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 2.8, the costs associated with independent living communities in Summit are generally more 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 Summit. 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 Summit to the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Summit indexes at 117.0 percent higher than the national average. Average healthcare costs are 4.0 percent more expensive than the national average, and the cost of housing is 372.0 percent more expensive than average.

Cost of Living	Summit, NJ
Aggregate Index	217
Healthcare Index	104
Housing Index	472
Food Index	109
Utilities Index	137
Transportation Index	103

Cost of Healthcare Index

LivabilityScore for Summit, NJ

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Summit. 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 Summit is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 7.5, Summit rates above 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 208 days each year in Summit, which is about average in the U.S. With an average temperature of 18°F in January, winters in Summit tend to be similar to other parts of the country, and summers often mirror nationwide seasonal trends, averaging 86°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Summit is 50.0 percent lower than the national average, and the property crime rate is 50.0 percent lower than average. At $117,965 per year, the population of Summit earns a better than average median household income. Summit has an unemployment rate of 10.10 percent, roughly 11.0 percent higher than the national average. And about 11.79 percent of the population in Summit is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which trails the national average by 10.4 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Summit	"Nat'l Avg"
Parks	1.5	136.1
Libraries	4.6	18.8
Places of Worship	50.1	220.5
Public Transit	5195.7	110.4
Grocery Stores	72.5	97.7
Pharmacies	4.8	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65