AARP Research Insights on Livable Communities

AARP Research insights on livable communities highlights US adults' experiences with housing, transportation, community engagement, and aging in place.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND HEALTH SERVICES

50-plus adults want to continue to live independently and in their current community for as long as possible.

• Three-quarters of 50-plus adults want to remain in their own homes (75%) and communities (73%) throughout their lifetime. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Seventy-two percent are actively making life-long plans to stay in their community , either in their current home (56%) or a different home (16%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Results from another study of 45-plus adults reinforces the powerful desire for older adults to want to remain living in their own home as they age (83%). [Source: 2022 AARP Vital Voices Survey of Adults Age 45-plus, fielded October 2022]

• Although 71% of 50-plus adults believe their community is currently meeting their needs, nearly half (47%) are only somewhat or not confident that their community will continue to do so as  they age. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

50-plus adults still want to remain in their own home, even if they need long-term care and/or help with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, managing medications, or preparing meals.

• The majority of 50-plus adults (61%) prefer to receive care, in their own home, from both family and paid help. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• About half say they would want to receive care, in their home, from only family (55%); and about two in five would accept care from only a paid health care professional (44%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Far fewer 50-plus adults want to go to an assisted living facility (29%) or a nursing home (11%) in the event they need long-term care. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• In comparison, less than a third (29%) say they would choose to leave their community and go live in a continuing care community that offers independent living services as well as assisted living and nursing home care for those who need it. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

50-plus adults are in good health, and they recognize the importance of access to quality health care in their community.

• The large majority of 50-plus (81%) say they are in good to excellent health. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Approximately eight in ten older adults believe it is highly important for communities to have accessible, high-quality healthcare services (81%), conveniently located healthcare facilities (79%), and a variety of healthcare providers (77%) to help residents age in place. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• About half of 50-plus adults (48%) say they would consider leaving their community to move to one that has better health care facilities. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

HOUSING

Affordable housing is an important factor for 50-plus adults when considering where to live.   

• Nearly half of 50-plus adults say they would relocate to a different community to have more affordable housing options (45%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Fifty-plus adults are supportive of housing policies that will foster their ability to remain in their homes and communities with three-quarters (73%) supporting local policies to protect long-time residents from increased housing costs when newer, more expensive housing is built nearby. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Results from another study show that adults age 45 and older say it is important to have affordable housing options in their community (72%). [Source: 2022 AARP Vital Voices Survey of Adults Age 45-plus, fielded October 2022] 

• Additionally, 45-plus adults are concerned about being able to afford to stay in their home as they age (60%). [Source: 2022 AARP Vital Voices Survey of Adults Age 45-plus, fielded October 2022] 

Most 50-plus adults are homeowners, and many will need to update their homes to allow them to age in place. 

• About two-thirds of adults age 18-plus (63%) across the nation live in single family homes and 74% of these adults own their home. Home ownership is even higher among 50-plus adults, with 66% living in single family homes, and 85% of this group owning their home. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• More than two in five 50-plus adults (43%) believe they will have to make some modifications to their current home for it to be a place where they can continue to live as they get older. The most cited modifications among 50-plus adults are bathroom modifications (72%), improved access into and around the home (71%), and the installation of a medical emergency response system (64%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Two-thirds or more of 50-plus adults believe that having trustworthy and affordable home repair contractors (72%) as well as home repair services specifically for older adults and those with disabilities (65%) are very important to have in their community to ensure that people can continue to live independently as they age. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Furthermore, almost eight in ten 50-plus adults (79%) support the passage of the federal Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA) that would provide tax credits for homeowners in low- and moderate-income communities to repair and renovate their homes. [Source: Unlocking Affordable Housing: Insights from the AARP Housing Tax Credit Survey, fielded February 2025]

Many 50-plus adults expect to integrate technology into their home as a means of helping them continue to live independently as they age. 

• Approximately three in five 50-plus adults (57%) believe that technology can help make aging easier according to a recent AARP tech research scan. [Source: 2025 Empowering Independence With Technology Among Adults Age 50-Plus, Scan May-July 2024]

• Moreover, nearly half of 50-plus adults (46%) say that technology can help them live a healthier life as the 2025 AARP Tech Trends study found. [Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50+, fielded September 2024]

• However, about three in five 50-plus adults (59%) feel that technology is not designed with their age in mind. [Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50+, fielded September 2024]

• Many 50-plus adults are willing to incorporate technology such as a medical emergency response system (64%), smart home security features like a doorbell camera or surveillance cameras around your  (44%), and smart home devices, such as a voice activated home assistant, smart lighting, smart plugs, or smart appliances (43%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• The majority (76%) say it is important to have access to reliable and affordable in-home high-speed Internet that can support the types of home technologies that foster living independently. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

Older adults believe it is important for communities to have homes that are located near essential services and support people's changing needs as they age. 

• Fifty-plus adults feel it is important for their community to have housing that is located close to key services like grocery stores, recreation facilities, and health care (64%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Nearly half of 50-plus adults say they would relocate to a different community to find housing that fits their changing needs as they age (45%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Even if adults age 50 and older needed to find a home that better suits their needs as they age, the vast majority (75%) would still prefer to live in a single-family home, although a smaller one. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Having housing stock that supports peoples’ changing needs as they age is also important to older adults as more than half place high importance on having a variety of housing types that can fit people’s needs as they age such as smaller single-family homes, multi-family homes, and apartments (56%) and homes that have accessible features like no-step entries and wider doorways (56%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Older adults want to be able to find appropriate housing as half place high importance on having easily accessible and understandable information on housing availability and options, including housing types, such as single-family homes, townhouses, or apartments (50%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

Although most older adults do not currently have Accessory Dwelling Units on their property, many would consider building or living in one for caregiving purposes.   

• The presence of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) is very low among 50-plus adults with only four percent reporting having an ADU on their property. However, a far higher percentage of 50-plus adults (20%) say they would consider building an ADU on their property. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

▪ The factors that motivate 50-plus adults the most to build an ADU on their property are to have a place for a loved one who needs care (58%) and to provide a home for family members or friends in need (53%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

▪ Other motiving factors for older adults to consider an ADU are to have someone living close by (36%) and to have a place for a guest (38%) or caregiver (31%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

▪ On the other hand, seven in ten 50-plus adults (70%) say they would not build an ADU on their property simply because they don’t have a need for one. Other factors that inhibit older adults from building an ADU are the construction cost (61%), not wanting the responsibility of being a landlord (59%), incurring a potential increase in property taxes (50%), and not wanting to go through the application and permitting process (43%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Many 50-plus adults say they would consider living in an ADU to live close to someone but still maintain their independence (64%), if they needed help with daily activities (61%), or to live close to a family member or friend or who needs care (55%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• In fact, four in ten 50-plus adults (40%) are current or past caregivers for an older loved one, and 36 percent of these adults say the person they are caring or cared for lives or lived with them. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Half of 50-plus adults (51%) are providing or have provided care for an older adult who is living or has lived on their own, and the same proportion (49%) say they are or were concerned about this person being able to remain living on their own. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Another quarter of 50-plus adults (27%) believe they will be caregivers at some point in the future. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

Fifty-plus adults would also consider sharing their home as another option to support aging in place.

• Seventy-two percent of 50-plus adults would consider sharing their home with a family other than a spouse, and about half (52%) would consider entering this living type of arrangement with a friend. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

TRANSPORTATION

Nearly all 50-plus adults prefer to drive themselves, and the large majority want community features that support drivers.

• Nine in ten 50-plus adults (90%) drive to get themselves to get where they need to go. Far fewer walk (21%), have others drive them (15%) or use other transportation modes: public transportation (7%); ride share (7%); bike (6%); special transportation (3%); taxi (2%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• According to another study, most adults age 45 and older (83%) believe it is important for them to be able to get around their community independently. [Source: 2022 AARP Vital Voices Survey of Adults Age 45-plus, fielded October 2022]

• Given that most older adults drive, many believe it is important for their community to have well-maintained streets (79%), well-lit, accessible and safe streets and intersections (76%), easy to read traffic signs (74%), safe and enforced speed limits (72%), pedestrian crossings that are clearly marked with audio and visual signals (70%), and streets with traffic-calming measures like speed bumps (48%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Older adults also want their community to have convenient, affordable public parking including spaces that accommodate people with disabilities (68%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• About three-quarters also believe having sidewalks that are in good condition and safe for all users (74%) and located where people need and want to walk (72%) are important community features. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

Although few older adults use public transportation, many advocate for it in their community as they consider their future.

• The majority of adults age 45-plus (58%) are concerned about continuing to get around their community as they age. [Source: 2022 AARP Vital Voices Survey of Adults Age 45-plus, fielded October 2022]

• Like all adults, 50-plus adults recognize the importance of having transportation alternatives in their community. More than half (61%) say having public transportation that is safe is a very important community feature. Fifty-plus adults also want public transportation that is easy to use (54%), timely and reliable (54%), affordable (53%), gets them where they need to go (53%), accessible to people of all abilities (50%), has stops with proper lighting and shelter (49%), has clean vehicles (47%), and is located close to their home (42%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Many 50-plus also see value in having a special transportation service for older residents and/or residents with disabilities (38%), a ride share service (27%), or a taxi service (21%) in their community. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024] 

OUTDOOR SPACES AND BUILDINGS

50-plus adults want to live in communities where they feel safe and supported, regardless of their physical ability.

• Over half of 50-plus adults (51%) would leave their community to move to another community that feels safer, secure, and has little or no crime. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Fifty-plus adults place high importance on having safe, well-lit parks that are crime free (61%) and access to safe trails where they can easily walk, bike, or run (57%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Having public buildings and spaces that are safe and accessible to residents of all abilities (59%) and ample seating in public areas including in and around public buildings (57%) are things that 50-plus adults greatly value in their community. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

50-plus adults want their community to be walkable and feature key services including local businesses.

• It is important to half or more 50-plus adults that their community have sidewalks that are in good condition, safe and accessible for residents of all physical abilities (74%) and feature walkable main street downtown areas made up of local businesses (50%) and a variety of restaurants and retail shops (61%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• More than seven in ten 50-plus adults place high importance on having healthy food options including grocery stores and farmers’ markets (73%) in their community. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

SOCIAL PARTICIPATION, RESPECT, AND INCLUSION

50-plus adults sometimes feel lonely and isolated and would consider moving to be closer to family members for support.

• About a quarter of 50-plus adults admit that they often or sometimes feel a lack of companionship (30%), left out (27%) or isolated (26%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• However, nearly all older adults (90%) say they have friends or family they can always turn to for help. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Nearly half of 50-plus adults (45%) would leave their community to move closer to family. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

50-plus adults seek out communities that offer a variety of activities that promote social interaction and appeal to all residents regardless of race, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status.

• About a quarter are motivated to relocate to another community to have better recreational activities (28%) and more opportunities for social interaction (28%) or to live in a more culturally diverse area with an ethnically and racially diverse population (24%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Results from another study reveal that nearly two in five 45-plus adults (38%) are very concerned about staying connected to others in their community and having opportunities to continue to socialize as they age. [Source: 2022 AARP Vital Voices Survey of Adults Age 45-plus, fielded October 2022]

• The 2025 AARP Tech Trends study finds that 76% of 50-plus adults rely on technology to stay connected with friends and family. [Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50+, fielded September 2024]

• Fifty-plus adults believe it is important to live in communities that offer affordable activities for everyone (57%) and offer senior discounts (50%) including activities that focus on fitness (45%), culture (44%) and continuing education (26%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Fifty-plus adults want their community to have venues that cultivate and support social activities and are conveniently located and accessible to residents of all physical abilities (49%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

50-plus adults believe that communities should ensure that there are social activities that benefit specific groups of residents, especially older adults, and military families.

• Older adults place high importance on offering activities that geared to specific residents including older adults (50%), active-duty military and veterans and their families (46%), and adults with dementia (37%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Older adults support intergenerational activities in their community such as having opportunities for residents of all ages and backgrounds to gather and discuss community issues (43%) and local schools that include older adults in activities (34%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

50-plus adults are strong advocates for the equal treatment of all residents in their community.

• More than seven in ten 50-plus adults (71%) believe it is important for communities to ensure that all residents are treated equally regardless of race, gender, age, ethnic background, sexual orientation, or other differences. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Nearly three in five 50-plus adults (58%) feel it is important to have community-wide actions that reduce inequities in the well-being of all residents regardless of race and ethnicity. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Half of 50-plus adults are actively working or seeking work and want to live in communities that foster employment for older adults and those with disabilities.

• More than two in three of 50-plus adults are employed full or part-time (38%) or are unemployed and looking for work (3%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Over a third of 50-plus adults (35%), who are currently working or looking for work, would leave their community to move to someplace else that offers better job opportunities. Over half of all 50-plus adults (55%) would choose to relocate to find a place with a lower cost of living. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Three in ten 50-plus adults (30%) say they or their spouse or partner has some type of disability that keeps them from fully working, going to school, or doing things like housework or other activities. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• More than half of 50-plus adults (54%) believe it is important for communities to have policies that provide equal opportunities for older adults to continue working throughout their lives. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Comparable results from another study show that adults age 45 and older place high importance on protection from age discrimination (62%). [Source: 2022 AARP Vital Voices Survey of Adults Age 45-plus, fielded October 2022]

• About half of 50-plus adults want communities to offer jobs that can accommodate people with disabilities (49%), a range of flexible job opportunities (50%) and job training opportunities for older adults who want to learn new skills or receive training in a different field of work (48%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Similarly, adults age 45 and older are very interested in advancing their career (41%), keeping up with technology to help foster their job skills (37%), and learning new job skills (25%). [Source: 2022 AARP Vital Voices Survey of Adults Age 45-plus, fielded October 2022]

50-plus adults want to give back to their community through volunteering.

• Three in ten 50-plus adults (30%) have volunteered for a non-profit, charity, school, hospital, religious organization, or civic group in the year prior to the survey-2023. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Approximately half of 50-plus adults (46%) believe it is important for communities to provide opportunities for residents of all ages and backgrounds to participate on community councils or committees that can make important decisions for communities and their residents. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

50-plus adults believe it is important for communities to support local volunteers through a variety of ways.

• Two in five older adults want their community to offer a wide range of volunteer activities (41%), easy ways to find out about these opportunities (38%), and training opportunities so that residents can perform their best in volunteer roles (36%). [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Two in five (42%) also want to have transportation options to and from volunteer activities for residents who need it so everyone can have an equal opportunity to volunteer and give back to their community. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

50-plus adults prioritize clean water and greener, more walkable communities.

• The vast majority of older adults (88%) believe it’s important to have access to clean, safe water in their community. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• More than half of adults age 50-plus (57%) believe it’s important for their community to foster a healthy environment by planting more trees and promoting alternatives to driving, such as bicycling and walking. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

Older adults want communities that reduce disaster risks, maintain essential services, and protect residents during emergencies.

• Two-thirds of older adults (66%) want to reduce their risk of natural disasters by living in a community with a low chance of such events. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Eight in ten 50-plus adults (82%) believe it’s important for their community to provide affordable utilities that remain operational during natural disasters. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

• Seventy percent also want their community to protect residents during emergencies by offering a safe evacuation plan and designated safe shelter spaces. [Source: 2024 AARP Home & Community Preferences Survey: A National Survey of Adults Age 18-Plus, fielded June-July 2024]

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