About Assisted LivingAssisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.Complete guide to assisted livingBest of 2025 Assisted Living Winners
About Memory CareMemory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering. Complete guide to memory careBest of 2025 Memory Care Winners
About Independent LivingIndependent living facilities offer convenient, hassle-free living in a social environment for seniors who are active, healthy, and able to live on their own.Complete guide to independent livingBest of 2025 Independent Living Winners
About Senior LivingSenior living is a term used to describe various housing and care options for older adults from maintenance-free, 55+ facilities for active seniors, to secure, fully staffed facilities for seniors with Alzheimer's or dementia. Complete guide to senior livingFind senior living facilities near you
About Nursing HomesNursing homes provide short-and long-term care for seniors who have physical or mental health conditions that require 24-hour nursing and personal care.Complete guide to Nursing Homes
About Senior ApartmentsSenior apartments offer accessible, no-frills living for seniors who are generally active, healthy, and able to live on their own.Complete guide to Senior Apartments
About Care HomesResidential care homes are shared neighborhood homes for seniors who need a live-in caregiver to assist with activities of daily living, like dressing and bathing.Complete guide to care homes
Veteran ResourcesVA benefits for long-term care, such as Aid and Attendance benefits, can help eligible veterans and their surviving spouses pay for senior care.Guide to VA benefits for long-term care
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10 Best Independent Living Communities in Essex, MA

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Who are you searching for?

If you’re looking for independent living in the Essex area, our local senior living advisors can help you each step of the way. From affordable independent living for seniors to luxury options, we’ll work with you to understand the cost of independent living in Essex. From there, we’ll show you the best independent living communities for your lifestyle, interests, and budget.

Discover unique independent living amenities, social activities, dining, and more independent living benefits. With 16 independent living facilities in Essex, A Place for Mom makes it easier to find your new, maintenance-free home.

We are also serving Assisted Living facilities in surrounding neighborhoods like West End, Bay Village and Beacon Hill.
You may also consider nearby communities such as Cambridge, Salem and Andover.

Essex Independent Living Facilities | 264 Reviews

Showing 14 communities
Last Updated: 3/7/25
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Photo of Charter Senior Living of Danvers
1818 Photos available
9.5
Review score
59 reviews
9.5
Review score
59 reviews
5 star
48%
4 star
29%
3 star
8%
2 star
5%
1 star
10%
See all reviews
Everyone is very accommodating. They all seem to take an interest in their guests. Facility is clean and has a nice feel to it, not stuffy. Overall a nice place for your loved ones.
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Memory Care: Memory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering.
The Charter at Danvers is a highly regarded senior care community in Danvers, Massachusetts providing assisted living and memory care services. Our stunning and inviting home-like community enjoys a prime location next to the world famous Cherry Hill Creamery and is just minutes from grocery...
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Photo of Sunrise of Gardner Park
1717 Photos available
33 Floor plans available
9.0
Review score
39 reviews
9.0
Review score
39 reviews
5 star
63%
4 star
21%
3 star
8%
2 star
3%
1 star
5%
See all reviews
Sunrise at Garden Park is a good place to live, Most of the staff is very personable and caring. Great friendly feel as you walk in the door. All in all a good safe home for memory care and assisted living.
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Memory Care: Memory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering.
Sunrise at Gardner Park, which provides both Assisted Living as well as Reminiscence (memory) Care, has been serving the needs of seniors and their families since 1994. Famous for it's 'Bed and Breakfast' ambiance, Gardner Park is housed within a gracious Victorian Mansion. Besides the 55 private...
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Photo of Putnam Farm at Danvers
1212 Photos available
Pricing promotion
8.9
Review score
32 reviews
8.9
Review score
32 reviews
5 star
66%
4 star
28%
3 star
3%
2 star
0%
1 star
3%
See all reviews
Most of the department directors were very friendly and responsive in a timely manner. All staff we encountered seemed friendly, compassionate and attentive to my mom's needs. I would highly recommend Putnam...
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Memory Care: Memory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering.
Designed to capture the residential flavor of the neighborhood, Benchmark Senior Living at Putnam Farm boasts features that create the air of a country manor, including a spacious porch with wonderful hilltop views. The community offers residents and families close proximity to the Geriatric Care...
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Photo of The Residence at Riverbend
44 Photos available
8.9
Review score
11 reviews
8.9
Review score
11 reviews
5 star
73%
4 star
18%
3 star
9%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%
See all reviews
I think the nurses are fantastic and go out of their way to notify family if anything of concern with your loved one. Highly recommend!
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Living
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Memory Care: Memory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering.
Independent Living: Independent living facilities offer convenient, hassle-free living in a social environment for seniors who are active, healthy, and able to live on their own.
The Residence at Riverbend is a rental community that has already established an outstanding reputation on the North Shore and beyond! Our dedication to an impeccable standard of quality in every aspect of the Riverbend lifestyle is evident in all we do; for instance our restaurant serves 3 meals...
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Photo of Colonial Gardens
1414 Photos available
8.1
Review score
62 reviews
8.1
Review score
62 reviews
5 star
44%
4 star
35%
3 star
6%
2 star
5%
1 star
10%
See all reviews
The budget is surely the deciding factor on food served in the dining room. We also have inferior toilet paper (2nds that is SO thin it dissolves the second it touches your skin). The activity room was...
Provides: Independent Living
Care types provided by this community
Independent Living: Independent living facilities offer convenient, hassle-free living in a social environment for seniors who are active, healthy, and able to live on their own.
We believe that Colonial Gardens Gracious Retirement Living is so much more than walls and windows - it's a place to enjoy home-cooked meals, game night, or a quiet evening with family and friends. It's where you always feel comfortable, safe, and secure. At Colonial Gardens Gracious Retirement...
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Photo of The Current Beverly
1010 Photos available
8.0
Review score
1 review
8.0
Review score
1 review
5 star
0%
4 star
0%
3 star
0%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%
See all reviews
Had a great tour at The Current Beverly. The building has a lot of character and some amazing views from the units which make you feel part of Beverly and the beautiful downtown. On the rooftop deck is the...
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Memory Care: Memory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering.
See details
Photo of Brightview Danvers
2020 Photos available
5 star
46%
4 star
26%
3 star
10%
2 star
0%
1 star
18%
See all reviews
My mom was in Brightview for 8 years before she recently passed away. She was lucky to be able to be there till the end. I live on the West coast and visited mom every 5-6 weeks so I consider Brightview my...
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Living
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Memory Care: Memory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering.
Independent Living: Independent living facilities offer convenient, hassle-free living in a social environment for seniors who are active, healthy, and able to live on their own.
Located in the North Shore/Cape Ann area of Massachusetts, Brightview Danvers brings the best in senior living options all together in one vibrant community. The only rental retirement community in the area, our campus features Independent Living and Assisted Living residences as well as the...
Provides: Independent Living
Care types provided by this community
Independent Living: Independent living facilities offer convenient, hassle-free living in a social environment for seniors who are active, healthy, and able to live on their own.
Photo of The Herrick House
5 star
0%
4 star
0%
3 star
0%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%
See all reviews
This place is like a 5 star resort, it's prestine, it's brighter, cleaner. It's an upscale place with people at a higher income level. It's a lot more expesnive and doesn't have the PACE program.
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Living
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Memory Care: Memory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering.
Independent Living: Independent living facilities offer convenient, hassle-free living in a social environment for seniors who are active, healthy, and able to live on their own.
The Herrick House has been enriching the lives of seniors on the North Shore since 1994. Located on the upper campus of Beverly Hospital, The Herrick House features traditional assisted living and Spectrum, a dementia care neighborhood. Services include 24-hour on site licensed nursing staff,...
Photo of Fairweather Apartments
Provides: Senior Apartments
Care types provided by this community
Senior Apartments: Senior apartments offer accessible, no-frills living for seniors who are generally active, healthy, and able to live on their own.
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Photo of Harborlight House Properties
1.0
Review score
1 review
1.0
Review score
1 review
5 star
0%
4 star
0%
3 star
0%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%
See all reviews
Provides: Assisted Living
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Provides: Independent Living
Care types provided by this community
Independent Living: Independent living facilities offer convenient, hassle-free living in a social environment for seniors who are active, healthy, and able to live on their own.
Photo of John Bertram House
1111 Photos available
22 Floor plans available
Provides: Assisted Living
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
Located on the Salem Common in a historic Federalist Mansion, the John Bertram House delivers the finest in senior care under the guidance of Sunrise Senior Living and local Board of Trustees. Serving Senior for over thirty years, the John Bertram House affords families peace-of-mind by providing...
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Photo of The Brookhouse for Women
Provides: Assisted Living
Care types provided by this community
Assisted Living: Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.

Cost of independent living in Essex, MA

The average cost of senior living in Essex is $6,409 per month. Cheaper nearby regions include Amesbury, MA with an average of $5,906 per month.

Average monthly cost of Independent Living in Essex, MA vs. nearby cities

Essex, MA
$6,409/mo
$6,423/mo

Average monthly cost of Independent Living in Essex, MA vs. the state and national average

Essex, MA
$6,409/mo
U.S. national average
$4,019/mo

Average monthly cost of Independent Living in Essex vs. other types of senior living

$6,883/mo
Independent Living
$6,409/mo

Median monthly costs of Independent Living in Essex, MA by room type

Semi-Private
$6,106/mo
Studio
$7,717/mo
1 Bedroom
$7,546/mo
2 Bedroom
$9,182/mo
Detached Cottage/Bungalow
$6,435/mo

Average cost of Independent Living in Essex over time

Essex, MAMA stateNational

Discover the many ways to pay for senior living

Planning ahead can better position you to make good choices for your loved one’s care in the future. But if your aging family member needs care now, there are ways to finance the cost of long-term care through a combination of approaches.

What families are saying about independent living in Essex

Recent reviews for independent living in Essex

Putnam Farm at Danvers

4.9
Our loved one was only there for 10 days, but the Putnam Farm at Danvers community is beautiful. It is a well kept facility with very very nice personnel working there .

Cadbury Commons in Cambridge, MA

3.8
Our experience with this community was good, overall it is kept pretty clean. The care services are pretty reliable, the activities were however a little bit weaker. The food at this community was very good, and we really liked the responsiveness of the staff and the availability the memory care ...
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Partridge House in Hampton, NH

5.0
The staff loves what they do and it shows!!!! The facility is very homey and sets a relaxed atmosphere. I highly recommend. My siblings were all very impressed with the facility and mom's care as well. My Mom passed in July and I was so happy she spent her last months here.

Essex independent living services and amenities

These charts highlight some of the many care, dining, and entertainment offerings available in Essex independent living communities. They don’t represent all possible services and amenities available at assisted living communities in Essex, but support comparisons against nationwide offerings. Our Senior Living Advisors can help you find communities that fit your preferences.

Availability of select dietary accommodations in Essex independent living

Independent living communities help seniors maintain a balanced diet by accommodating their health needs, allergies, and other restrictions. Below you’ll find the percentage of Essex partners making specific dietary accommodations for seniors compared to the percentage of assisted living partners making those accommodations nationally.
Essex, MANational
Nutritionist / dietician
Nutritionist / dietician
35.7%
20%
Low / no sodium
Low / no sodium
35.7%
33.4%
No sugar
No sugar
35.7%
30.9%
Vegetarian
Vegetarian
28.6%
32.8%
Pureed meals
Pureed meals
14.3%
7.7%
0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100%

Availability of select dining options in Essex independent living

Our independent living communities know that seniors want top-quality meals and options for how they dine. The chart below indicates the percentage of Essex communities that offer dining options to their discerning residents compared to our partners nationally.
Essex, MANational
Professional chef
Professional chef
42.9%
35.8%
Restaurant style dining
Restaurant style dining
42.9%
42.6%
Room service
Room service
42.9%
36.1%
Anytime dining
Anytime dining
28.6%
16.9%
0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100%

Availability of select programs and activities in Essex independent living

Senior living communities offer a variety of programming to keep seniors socially, mentally, and physically vibrant. The chart below shows what percentage of partnered independent living communities in Essex offer the selected activities, amenities, and programs compared to the percentage of partners nationwide.
Essex, MANational
Activity director
Activity director
42.9%
44.4%
Pet-focused programs
Pet-focused programs
21.4%
27.7%
Community service programs
Community service programs
21.4%
32.1%
Devotional activities on-site
Devotional activities on-site
42.9%
48.3%
Parties / BBQs / happy hour
Parties / BBQs / happy hour
42.9%
48.9%
Outings / off-site activities
Outings / off-site activities
57.1%
53.9%
Piano or organ
Piano or organ
42.9%
42.2%
Arts and crafts center
Arts and crafts center
28.6%
36.9%
Educational speakers / life long learning
Educational speakers / life long learning
42.9%
40.8%
Clubs / games / karaoke
Clubs / games / karaoke
35.7%
46.6%
Live performances
Live performances
42.9%
46.3%
Dances
Dances
21.4%
31.8%
Fitness center
Fitness center
28.6%
38.9%
Fitness classes
Fitness classes
42.9%
46.1%
0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100%

Frequently Asked Questions

Atria Longmeadow Place, The Gables at Winchester and Assisted Living Center of Salisbury are the top-rated independent living facilities near Essex, Massachusetts. See full list of communities.

There are 16 independent living facilities near Essex, Massachusetts. See the full list.

The best independent living facilities near you in Essex, Massachusetts are Atria Longmeadow Place, The Gables at Winchester and Atria Marland Place. These independent living communities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews.

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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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