By 2030, 1 in every 5 Americans will be over age 65, and the U.S. will face a serious shortage of affordable, accessible housing to meet the needs of these older adults.1 Additionally, the majority of Americans want to live independently as they age.2 A viable solution may be mobile homes—low-cost, unsubsidized and widely available options for seniors. Statistics bear this out: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of February 2022, approximately 3.2 million people aged 60 and older reported living in a mobile home, which translates to about one-third of all adults who live in mobile homes.3
What is a senior mobile home park?
A mobile home park is a lot like a condominium association. The common spaces are maintained by the owner and staff, while the tenants have a small lot for which they’re responsible. A senior mobile home park has rules regarding the age of the people who live there, usually limiting residency to people 55 and older. A senior mobile home park and its features are geared towards older adults and may include noise ordinances and usage restrictions, creating a senior-friendly environment designed to enhance the quality of life of the seniors who live there.
The benefits of living in a senior mobile home park
Senior mobile home park living offers a variety of economic, physical and social benefits to retirees and older adults. Here’s an overview:
Financial savvy
Living in a mobile home is one of the more affordable options for home ownership, allowing seniors to save more than they would with a site-built home or by renting an apartment. The average cost of a new mobile home is $70,600, compared with $287,000 for a site-built home.4 Also, today’s mobile homes can cost 50% less per square foot to build while offering an average of more than 1,400 square feet of interior space.5
Sense of belonging
When asked why they enjoy living in a mobile home park, residents most often cite the “sense of belonging.”6 Along with friendly, caring neighbors, many communities feature social or activity clubs or fitness amenities organized around the needs of seniors. This simply means that older adults can enjoy what the mobile home park has to offer without having to compete with younger families and kids. Plus, senior-focused amenities provide an opportunity to consistently socialize with people in the same age group.
Quality and safety
The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has been directly involved in the safety and quality of mobile homes since 1976, enforcing a performance code that all manufactured housing must meet. The code covers every possible aspect including design, construction, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, fire safety, energy efficiency and transportation from the factory to the mobile home park. In short, today’s mobile homes are built to standards comparable to, or exceeding, those for site-built homes.7
Environmentally smart
Thanks to modern efficiencies in the manufacturing process, along with the high standards of the HUD code, mobile home construction can actually produce up to 90% less waste and make less of an environmental impact than site-built housing.8 Specifically, mobile home construction uses less material without sacrificing safety or structure. Heating, cooling and utility components may be more energy efficient. Finally, mobile homes are built in a factory and assembled on site, so the environmental impact of transportation may be much less than that of moving raw materials to a site-built home lot.9
The costs of living in a senior mobile home park
The amount older adults pay to live in a mobile home park varies and is based on several factors. Mobile homes are available in single-, double- and triple-wide widths, and most lots offer just enough space for the mobile home and a small yard. Most residents pay rent on the space and own the mobile home. Rental fees usually include water and sewer hook-ups, and residents are responsible for paying their own electricity and internet connection bills. Many mobile home parks offer affordable monthly rental in the $200-$300 range, which is good news for seniors on a fixed income.10 Some parks may rent space for as much as $1,000 a month; these are often gated communities offering special amenities like on-site security and maintenance.11 Some may also require a homeowner association fee.12
Where to find mobile home parks for seniors
Most states have mobile home parks for seniors. Older adults interested in mobile home living can start looking within their own communities. As is the case with just about everything else today, the best place to search for and find mobile home parks for seniors is on the internet.13
Options for financing a senior mobile home
There are many options for financing a mobile home. Many lending institutions provide conventional and government-insured financing plans. The most common way to finance a mobile home is via a retail installment contract, available through the mobile home builder/retailer. Mobile homes are also eligible for government-insured loans offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Veterans Administration (VA), and the Rural Housing Services (RHS).14
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Sources:
1Shannon Guzman, “Manufactured Housing as an Affordable Option for Older Adults,” AARP Public Policy Institute, last accessed March 21, 2023,
2Guzman, “Manufactured Housing as an Affordable Option for Older Adults.”
3“Data spotlight: Older adults living in mobile homes,” Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, last accessed March 21, 2023,
4“Benefits of Living in a Manufactured Housing Community,” Manufactured Housing Institute, last accessed March 21, 2023,
5“Benefits of Living in a Manufactured Housing Community.”
6“Benefits of Living in a Manufactured Housing Community.”
7“Benefits of Living in a Manufactured Housing Community.”
8“Benefits of Living in a Manufactured Housing Community.”
9“Benefits of Living in a Manufactured Housing Community.”
10“Benefits of Living in a Manufactured Housing Community.”
11Jeff Hoyt, “Senior Mobile Home Parks,” SeniorLiving.org, last accessed March 21, 2023,
12Hoyt, “Senior Mobile Home Parks.”
13Hoyt, “Senior Mobile Home Parks.”
14"Manufactured Housing and Standards - Frequently Asked Questions," U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, last accessed March 24, 2023,
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