In Pennsylvania, assisted living residences provide food, shelter, personal care, and supplemental health care services to individuals requiring assistance or supervision with activities of daily living or medication administration. On average, assisted living in Pennsylvania costs $4,489 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. To keep up with Pennsylvania’s increasing senior population, the state has a range of assisted living communities — from Allentown to Philadelphia — to accommodate various budgets, care needs, and lifestyles.
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 Pennsylvania cities for assisted living overall
Key findings
State highlights
Assisted living in Pennsylvania particularly stands out due to a robust selection providing a variety of amenities and services. Nearly 100% of our partner assisted living communities offer on-site activities with options ranging from fitness classes to game nights. Our assisted living partners also offer exceptional on-site care with over 80% of them offering rehabilitative therapy, respite care, and hospice care services.
Top ranked Pennsylvania cities - Services & Amenities
Key findings
Pennsylvania vs. the national monthly median cost of assisted living
Top ranked Pennsylvania cities - Affordability
Key findings
Top ranked Pennsylvania cities - Ratings
My parents are residents at Magnolia Chambersburg. I visited, toured and priced 6 different facilities when looking for a place for them to reside. Magnolia was my first selection. All of the staff are...
The communication and care are top notch. Our mom is treated like a family member. Beautiful church located within and beautiful grounds for walking. Mom likes the food and her private room with attached...
The staff is very caring and able to handle everything that comes up. They clearly enjoy their jobs. The residents are well cared for, the rooms clean. They also know family members when they visit and make...
5 for all categories. The amenities are very good. The location is convenient and close to shopping centers and CVS. Ample parking for visitors. Friendly staff.
As my aunt gets older and more infirm, the Blue Bell Place management and staff has been wonderful in managing the changes in her condition. I have the utmost confidence in them.
I would definitely give it a five star rating. They took care of Mrs. Leap very well. The food is fabulous there. The activities that they do is fabulous there. I would definitely recommend it to anyone....
Both of my parents are there for respite care. The staff is awesome. They have in house PT which is great. They are liking the one floor living arrangements and not having to brave the nasty weather while...
Care givers seem a little slow and could use more of them. The staff and admin respond to questions and concerns. Overall I am pleased and suggest you check this place out.
The facility is bright and clean. The staff has been nothing but helpful since day 1. Very happy with them. I would recommend them to others who are searching for a place for their loved one.
This is only place we tried so hard to compare. Competence, ability and flexibility of administration and staff helped us figure out what was needed from beginning and addresses my spouse's changing needs....
The Lafayette is definitely a five star overall experience. It has been good, the cleanliness and her apartment is very nice. she loves it feels like she hit a home run. I would absolutely recommend the...
At the Terrace at Chestnut Hill, it's a clean, well maintained facility. The staff are very kind and friendly. The food is good too. There are a wealth of activities to keep you busy.
They have wonderful facilities, staff very accommodating. My Aunt just needed more hands on care. I would recommend them to others who are searching for a place for their loved one.
My mother is as happy as one can be in a memory care facility. [Name Removed] the activities director, is wonderful. The nurses and caregivers seem very nice as well. .om seems well cared for.
Overall the physical plant is in good shape, and ongoing maintenance is diligent. Our unit is freshly rehabbed with all new appliances. The staff is approachable and supportive and the food is quite good....
Pennsylvania seniors and their families can expect a monthly cost of $4,489, or $53,868 per year, for assisted living, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. This is about $340 lower than the national average cost. These prices reflect the room and board rate at our partner communities. Location, extra amenities, the level of care needed, and other factors can affect the total cost.
Pennsylvania is generally less expensive than its neighbors when it comes to assisted living. For example, assisted living in Maryland costs about $1,000 more per month on average. Costs also vary throughout the state. In Philadelphia, assisted living generally costs about $5,593 per month, while the Steel City of Pittsburgh offers savings of about $690 per month.
Assisted living costs in Pennsylvania typically fall in the middle of the senior care spectrum. Nursing homes tend to cost slightly more, while memory care communities generally run about $1,000 more per month due to their specialized services and staffing. While cost is an important factor, choosing the level of care that best supports your loved one’s health, safety, and quality of life is often the more meaningful decision in the long run.
Read more:Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: 5 Key Differences
Average monthly costs
Pennsylvania
US National average
Average monthly costs
Pennsylvania
Maryland
District of Columbia
Delaware
New Jersey
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
| Community type | Pennsylvania | U.S. | Cost difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living | $4,539/mo | $4,879/mo | 7.0% below national median |
| Memory Care | $5,533/mo | $5,660/mo | 2.3% below national median |
| Independent Living | $4,477/mo | $4,272/mo | 4.8% above national median |
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In Pennsylvania, 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.
Private pay is the most common way for families in Pennsylvania to pay for assisted living. Options may include savings accounts or retirement pensions, as well as the proceeds from selling house, life insurance, or long-term care insurance. Keep in mind that your loved one’s Social Security benefits are also a source of personal income, which can be used to pay for assisted living.
Seniors who served in the military and their surviving spouses may qualify for veterans benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Payments from these programs are made directly to the recipient and may be used to pay for assisted living. Seniors who have questions about their veterans benefits, or who need help with the VA benefits application process, should contact an accredited benefits counselor. Each county in the Commonwealth has a Director of Veterans Affairs, who is an accredited veterans service officer (VSO). Find a local VSO or call 800-547-2838.
Medicaid is a publicly funded program that provides support to people who have low incomes and certain conditions and disabilities. In Pennsylvania, the Medicaid program is called Medical Assistance, and covers certain health and personal care services in two ways: through the state’s regular Medicaid plan and through a home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program.
The state’s regular Medicaid plan for aged, blind, and disabled residents is an entitlement, and can help cover the costs of services and products such as skilled nursing, dietary services, medical and surgical supplies, and more. The Community HealthChoices HCBS waiver is not an entitlement and covers the cost of help with activities of daily living (ADLs), transportation, personal emergency response systems, and more depending on the recipient’s needs and circumstances.
Entitlement programs are open to all eligible Pennsylvania residents, while waiver programs tend to have limited availability and waitlists may apply. If you or your loved one has questions about Pennsylvania Medicaid’s benefits or the application process, contact a county-based caseworker or call 866-550-4355.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for seniors 65 years or older and younger people who are living with certain conditions. Medicare doesn’t cover room and board in assisted living, but it can help cover the cost of medically necessary services and products for residents in an assisted living community, such as doctor’s appointments, physical and occupational therapy, medications, medical supplies, and more.[04]
Pennsylvania’s state health insurance assistance program (SHIP) operates PA MEDI, or Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight. PA MEDI counselors are specially trained to help the state’s seniors understand and make decisions about their insurance coverage, including Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance.
In Pennsylvania, the Bureau of Human Services Licensing within the Department of Human Services grants two types of assisted living licenses in the Commonwealth. The two differ primarily in the level and type of care they provide and in the living arrangements they offer.
Both personal care homes and assisted living residences must be inspected each year and are required to provide appropriate care and support to residents who are living with dementia.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services maintains the Human Services Provider Directory, which provides an overview of a facility’s ownership, 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.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Medicaid/Medical Assistance.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Community HealthChoices.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Get started with Medicare. Medicare.gov.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Personal care homes.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Assisted living residences.
Assisted living state rankings report
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