The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Clarkston, MI for 2023

Officially known as the Village of Clarkston, this little city in Oakland County is part of the Detroit metro area. According to the most recent population data, the city is home to less than 1,000 residents, and about 22% of its population is aged 65 or older. Clarkston seniors benefit from the safety and serenity found in small-town living, and the big-city amenities of Detroit are only 40 minutes away. However, Clarkston has an array of amenities of its own, including cutting edge medical facilities, a nationally known outdoor music venue, four courses for golf enthusiasts and a charming, shaded park in its historic downtown that’s on a mill race originally built by Henry Ford.

Assisted living facilities provide personalized supportive care in a homelike setting for seniors who don’t require extensive personal care. The average cost of assisted living in Clarkston is $4,750, which is higher than both the state and national averages.

This guide covers assisted living costs in Clarkston and compares those rates with costs in nearby Michigan cities, as well as other types of senior care. It also offers some benefits and drawbacks of retiring in Clarkston and provides a list of free resources specifically for seniors.

Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Adult Foster Care and Homes for the Aged Licensing Division provides licensing and regulation. The State of Michigan doesn’t license assisted living facilities, but a Home for the Aged license may be required if the facility provides room, board and supervised personal care to 21 or more residents aged 55 or older.

• Michigan has no city, local or county sales taxes, so Clarkston residents only pay 6% state sales tax. However, two larger expenses for aging adults, groceries and prescription drugs, are tax-exempt.
• Michigan imposes a flat income tax rate of 4.25%. Cities can levy additional income taxes, but Clarkston doesn’t. Social Security benefits, military pensions and Railroad Retirement benefits are exempt from state income taxes, but other retirement income may not be. Income from private retirement plans up to $53,759, or $107,517 for couples, is exempt for seniors born before 1946. They can also deduct dividends, interest and capital gains of up to $11,983, or $23,966 for couples. Seniors born between 1946 and 1952 can claim an exemption of up to $20,000, or $40,000 for couples, once they turn 67. Those born after 1952 typically don’t receive any exemptions.
• Clarkston’s overall cost of living is about 12% higher than the national median and 22% higher than the statewide average. However, seniors benefit from lower health care costs, which are more than 18% lower than the national average and almost 5% lower than the statewide median.
• Crime rates in Clarkston are much lower than the national average. These are ranked on a scale of one to 100, with one being the best. The average violent crime rate nationwide is 22.7, while Clarkston’s violent crime rate is 6. Property crime is also lower — the national average is 35.4, and Clarkston has an average of 15.5.
• The McLaren-Clarkston Medical Building provides medical services to Clarkston residents in its state-of-the-art facility. It has a 24-hour emergency center, outpatient health care services, physical therapy, diagnostic imaging and cardiology and stroke services, among others.
• Summers are pleasant in Clarkston with temperatures rarely rising higher than 90 degrees, but it has about 142 days annually when nighttime temperatures drop below freezing. Clarkston receives about 33 inches of snow, and for six months of the year, there’s significant snowfall, including more than 9 inches in January.

According to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of assisted living in Clarkston is $4,750 per month, which is $450 higher than the national median and  $550 more than the Michigan average.

Because the average cost of assisted living in Clarkston is higher than the state average, it’s also higher than many other cities, but it’s not the highest. Compared to Flint, Clarkston’s cost is $1,081 per month higher, and it’s $750 more than in Saginaw. Alternately, the average cost in Clarkston is $350 lower than in Monroe and less than $840 lower than Ann Arbor.

Seniors who are comparing assisted living costs may also want to compare the costs of other types of senior care. Adult day health care is the cheapest option at an average of $1,733 per month. In-home care is comparable in cost to assisted living. Homemaker services cost an average of $4,767 per month, and home health aides cost about $4,957. Nursing homes provide the most extensive and the most expensive care. These facilities, which provide around-the-clock monitoring and care, charge about $8,821 per month for semiprivate rooms and $10,646 for private rooms.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Michigan page.