3rd
OVERALL STATE RANK
Tennessee offers a wide range of assisted living options featuring quality care, thoughtful amenities, and homelike settings. Seniors can find communities in vibrant cities like Nashville and Knoxville, where residents enjoy personalized support with activities of daily living, medication management, and engaging social programs. On-site events such as birthday celebrations and barbecues foster connection, while off-site outings allow residents to explore the state’s scenic beauty and cultural attractions.
Known for the Great Smoky Mountains and its deep musical roots in country, blues, and rock ’n’ roll, Tennessee combines natural charm with a relatively affordable cost of living. In 2026, the average cost of assisted living in Tennessee is just over $4,302 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. This balance of value and lifestyle makes the Volunteer State an appealing choice for older adults and their families.
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 Tennessee cities for assisted living overall
Key findings
State highlights
According to A Place for Mom’s internal data, 98% of our partner communities in Tennessee offer on-site activities, nearly 83% provide full medication management, and over 60% are pet-friendly.[01]
Top ranked Tennessee cities - Services & Amenities
Key findings
Tennessee vs. the national monthly median cost of assisted living
Top ranked Tennessee cities - Affordability
Key findings
Top ranked Tennessee cities - Ratings
Very warm, pleasant environment. They are very kind to my mom and dad. Food is good. I looked at every facility in town for my parents and thought Story Point was the best.
Visiting my mother and knowing she so well cared for and happy keeps me at ease. This place is well maintained with a very courteous staff! They always go above and beyond. I’m thankful to know I don’t have...
My mom resided at Brookdale on the assisted living side for over five years and then in memory care for close to two years. My mom recently passed and the care and compassion the staff showed to her and my...
Well, the staff is responsive. Whenever I speak to the nursing staff they all seem up to date about what is happening with his care. They seem to communicate amongst themselves effectively
Moving into this senior living community has truly been one of the best decisions I’ve made. From the very beginning, I’ve been impressed by the level of care and attention provided here. The staff is not...
Facility is always clean and bright. Staff has always been very sweet to residents and our family. Wonderful programs daily and very welcoming when I bring young grandchildren to visit. Very good places for...
Mom has been at Somerby for 9 days so far. And our experience has been 5star. The sales director, [name removed] was wonderful to work with from the very beginning and still helpful when I need her. My...
Everything was fantastic there. The only reason I put a 4 for the food is that I actually never ate there, but I did see the food. It was a total blessing for my mom to be there. They truly care for the...
The community is kept extremely clean, they decorate for every holiday, they do lots of events that include family, and have some tenured employees that love the residents like family. My mother is in Memory...
Dad has been at ST-knoxville for 4 weeks now. The staff has been so kind and proactive in helping dad to adjust to his new lifestyle. He says there is much to do. Special thanks to the lead receptionist...
Visited a family friend this past week. Love the staff here! They're so friendly and know their residents. Very clean and friendly. Overheard the postman give praise to how kind they are to him here and make...
The staff are very caring and attentive. When I first stepped foot in Windsor Ridge, I felt at home because the staff are so friendly. They also have an outstanding activities program. Really love it here!
We have been so pleased with all the amenities and staff at StoryPoint Germantown. My mom (82, early dementia) is enjoying the many activities and friendship there. The staff is always keeping me informed of...
This is a large house converted into a nursing/ assisted living home. Very personal. Very rural. Their staff very hands on. Everyone eats whatever is cooked for the night. No variety. You eat whatever they...
I'd give 5 stars. Room size is a little small but perfect for the need. Quality of care is excellent. PT/OT on site. Low to zero staff turnover in about 10 months. Each staff member seems to know each...
In Tennessee, the average cost of assisted living in 2026 is $4,302 per month or $51,624 per year. That’s about $400 less than the national average. This cost reflects the base room and board at our partner communities. Additional services and certain amenities are typically billed separately. Factors such as location, apartment size, level of care needs, and quality of amenities can all influence the overall cost.
Compared with other Southern states, assisted living costs in Tennessee tend to be higher. Mississippi and Georgia offer lower monthly costs with comparable amenities, while communities in Kentucky generally charge a little more. Within the state, Chattanooga is around $300 less than the state average per month, while communities in Nashville, with its bright lights and country music stars, cost a little more than the national average.
Seniors who are able to complete activities of daily living on their own can save around $500 per month by choosing independent living in Tennessee.
Read more:Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: 5 Key Differences
Average monthly costs
Tennessee
US National average
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
| Community type | Tennessee | U.S. | Cost difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted Living | $4,374/mo | $4,784/mo | 8.6% below national median |
| Memory Care | $4,472/mo | $5,057/mo | 11.6% below national median |
| Independent Living | $3,840/mo | $4,247/mo | 9.6% below national median |
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Families in Tennessee use a variety of methods to pay for assisted living. Most often, they use a combination of funding sources, including personal funds and publicly funded benefit programs. 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. Read about payment options below, or check out our guide to paying for long-term care for a more high-level overview.
Private pay is the most common way for families in Tennessee to pay for assisted living. Private pay options include savings and income from such as investment or retirement accounts, Social Security, or the proceeds from the rental or sale of a home. Life insurance and long-term care insurance are also commonly used.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides several benefit programs to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses. Navigating the application process can be complex, so research programs or seek benefits counseling before applying, as incomplete or incorrect applications can lead to delays, denials, or even a penalty period of ineligibility for a pension. The Tennessee Department of Veterans Services has trained staff who can assist veterans and their families with finding and applying for federal, state, and local veterans benefits. For benefits counseling and assistance, visit a regional office, call (615) 741-2345, or send an email to TN.Veterans@tn.gov.
Medicaid is a state and federally funded health insurance program for individuals with a low or limited income. It’s administered at the state level, so specific programs and services vary from state to state. TennCare is Tennessee’s Medicaid program. TennCare won’t cover the cost of room and board in an assisted living community but can help cover some medical and personal care costs.
TennCare covers some assisted living costs in two ways:[02,03]
Seniors and their families can receive help with TennCare by calling 800-342-3145.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program designed for adults aged 65 or older and people with certain conditions and disabilities. Medicare won’t pay for room and board in assisted living, nor does it cover personal care costs; however, it can be used to pay for medically necessary services and products.[04]
For help in understanding Medicare and its benefits, seniors and their families can contact Tennessee’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free and unbiased benefits counseling and assistance.
In Tennessee, the Division of Licensure and Regulation, part of the state’s Health Facilities Commission, is responsible for inspecting, licensing, and overseeing compliance for the state’s assisted living providers. Tennessee’s assisted living regulations are designed to ensure that residents receive affordable, high-quality care, and address such standards as resident care, facility operations, and staff training.
In Tennessee, assisted living communities are classified in two ways:[05]
Tennessee’s assisted living communities must undergo inspection before they may receive a license, and on a regular basis after licensure.[06]
Seniors and their families can check a community’s licensure status and find recent inspection reports using the state’s Health Care Facilities look-up tool.
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.
TennCare. CHOICES.
TennCare. Long-term services & supports.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Get started with Medicare. Medicare.gov.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). Residential care/assisted living compendium: Tennessee.
Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. (2022, July). Standards for adult care homes.
Overview of assisted living in TN
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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