27th
OVERALL STATE RANK
New York’s assisted living provides aging adults a safe and comfortable place to receive quality senior care, engage in fun activities, and indulge in all the state has to offer. The average cost of living in New York is $5,893 per month according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. The state offers a unique mix of small towns like Lake Placid and Lawrence and large cityscapes like New York City, Buffalo, and Rochester, with a variety of assisted living communities to choose from.
State scorecard
How we determine rankings
Our 2023 state ranking for assisted living uses A Place for Mom’s proprietary data collected from our community partners. First, we sorted through our metrics and grouped them into three pillars that are key in a quality assisted living experience. We weighted these pillars differently based on insights from our senior living experts. Then, we used these categories and their weighting to determine how each state ranks.
Top ranked New York cities for assisted living overall
Key findings
Top ranked New York cities - Services & Amenities
Key findings
New York vs. the national monthly median cost of assisted living
Top ranked New York cities - Affordability
Key findings
State highlights
According to A Place for Mom’s internal data, 99% of communities in New York offer on-site activities, nearly 87% provide full medication management, and nearly 58% employ a professional chef.
Top ranked New York cities - Ratings
I have enjoyed my stay very much since moving into TANGLEWOOD. The staff is amazing and always there to help in any way they can. Food is alright but they do give you meals options if you don't like the main...
Most importantly the level of care was excellent. Services were personalized to residents needs. Medications were always on time and as prescribed. Food was excellent. Activities were devised and well...
Castle Senior Living is a wonderful community. Staff are knowledgeable, approachable, and attentive to residents’ needs. Activities keep residents active and engaged. The rooms are clean and comfortable. We...
The overall experience is very good and the care is excellent. The reason for my rating is because I wish the residents in Memory Care were taken out more often. My understanding is prior to COVID regular...
The facility is orderly, clean, and well maintained. The staff are attentive and very friendly. A lot of thought is devoted to safety for the residents
Everyone who works there was super attentive, friendly and kind. The food was just amazing! We enjoyed some live jazz and what a super fun activity. Also can't get over how well the employees remember not...
Low resident to care giver ratio stood out the most. I would definitely recommend subscribing to the NorthWell health service. I get a picture of my dad at least every other day through the Smile app VERY...
The facility is orderly, clean, and well maintained. The staff are attentive and very friendly. A lot of thought is devoted to safety for the residents
I believe that they're trying, there just isn't enough staff and she's had constant issues with her pendant when calling for help. We'll most likely be moving her elsewhere; she'd like to give it a couple...
I believe that they're trying, there just isn't enough staff and she's had constant issues with her pendant when calling for help. We'll most likely be moving her elsewhere; she'd like to give it a couple...
When I was visiting the Belvedere, I saw the several staff interacting with residents. The were very friendly and attentive. The residents seemed to very happy. The resident I was visiting had nothing but...
Staff are amazing. I know there's a lot of work always to be done, so if there is a room need (e.g., fixing shower head or bathroom light motion sensor), it may just take time for it to be fixed. But...
According to A Place for Mom’s internal data, the average cost of assisted living in New York is $5,893 per month or $70,716 per year. In comparison, the national average cost of assisted living is $4,752 per month. These numbers reflect the base room and board at our partner communities. A handful of factors play a role in determining a community’s total cost, including location, amenities, care levels, and apartment floor plan size.
Assisted living in New York is generally less expensive than in neighboring states. Connecticut, New Jersey, and Vermont are each more costly per month on average. Communities in Pennsylvania charge about $1,400 less per month. Costs vary throughout the state as well. Costs in communities near New York City are higher than the state average, with the least costly being Staten Island. On the shores of Lake Erie, communities in Buffalo cost about $1,000 a month less than the state average, with city amenities and easy access to Niagara Falls. The capital city of Albany also offers some savings.
Seniors who are able to live on their own and are looking for a lower maintenance lifestyle can find around $1,000 per month of savings in independent living in New York. More important than cost, however, is ensuring your loved one has the right level of care.
Read more:Assisted Living vs. Independent Living: What’s the Difference?
Average monthly costs
New York
US National average
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
| Community type | New York | U.S. | Cost difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living | $5,922/mo | $4,752/mo | 24.6% above national median |
| Memory Care | $6,014/mo | $5,015/mo | 19.9% above national median |
| Independent Living | $4,756/mo | $4,211/mo | 12.9% above national median |
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
In New York, most families use a combination of private funds and public programs to cover the costs associated with assisted living. Because costs and eligibility can vary widely, it’s best to plan early to understand which payment options apply to your loved one’s situation. For an in-depth look at different payment options, visit our complete guide to paying for long-term care.
Most families use a combination of private pay methods to pay for assisted living. These funds typically come from savings and retirement accounts and Social Security benefits. Other sources of personal funding can come from selling a house or long-term care insurance.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides several benefit programs to eligible veterans and their spouses that may offset the cost of assisted living. However, the process of applying for benefits can be complex, so it’s a good idea to work with an accredited benefits counselor.
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services provides eligible veterans with benefits counseling for both veterans and their spouses through services offices in each county. Visit a local office or book an appointment online to receive counseling.
Medicaid is federally funded and administered at the state level. For people who have low or limited incomes, Medicaid can be a valuable resource to help pay for some assisted living costs, excluding room and board. New York State Medicaid offers several programs that eligible seniors can use to offset the costs of assisted living.[02]
The following programs are entitlements, meaning that all seniors who meet eligibility requirements will receive services:
The New York Assisted Living Program, which provides similar services as the programs mentioned above, is not an entitlement program, so eligible residents may be put on a waiting list.
Services typically covered by New York’s regular state Medicaid plan and its various programs include:
Contact a local Department of Social Services if you or your loved one has questions about New York Medicaid’s programs and benefits.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults aged 65 or older and people who have certain conditions. While Medicare can help cover some costs associated with assisted living, it won’t cover room and board in an assisted living community.[08]
For free, personalized, and unbiased information about Medicare, call the New York State’s Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Program (HIICAP) at 800-701-0501.
The New York State Department of Health is responsible for licensing assisted living communities, also known as Adult Care Facilities, in the state. There are three types of licenses for Adult Care Facilities or ACFs:[09]
Adult Homes and Enriched Housing Programs are permitted to offer services typical of an assisted living community, such as personal care, room and board, homemaker services, nursing, therapeutic services, case management, and more. Together, these services are known as an Assisted Living Program, or ALP.[09]
Additional certification is required for an ACF to become what’s known as an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) in New York. There are two types of ALRs:[09]
All types of residential care communities in New York must be inspected at licensure and again on an ongoing basis.
Use New York’s Adult Care Facility Profiles tool to find a community’s license status and recent inspection reports.
State regulations — and a community’s track record with inspections and licensing — offer important insights into safety and quality of care in senior living communities.
Download the Guide to Senior Living Licensure and Inspection Reports to learn what to look for in inspection reports and what questions to ask when touring communities. This resource explains how to use state licensure and inspection information to evaluate a community’s compliance, care standards, and responsiveness to issues.
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
A Place for Mom. (2026). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
New York State Department of Health. (2026, March). New York State Medicaid.
New York State Department of Health. (2025, August). How to apply for NY Medicaid.
New York State Department of Health. (2022, Nov.). Community First Choice Option (CFCO).
New York State Department of Health. (2026, Feb.). Personal Care Services Program (PCS).
New York State Department of Health. (2025, Dec.). Managed Long Term Care (MLTC).
New York State Department of Health. (2014, August). Assisted living program.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Get started with Medicare. Medicare.gov.
New York State Department of Health. (2023, May). Adult care facility services.
Assisted living state rankings report
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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