How many nursing homes are there really in the United States, where are they concentrated, and what do they cost in 2026? We combined Curalune's mapping data — our database of facilities for older adults, city by city — with real 2026 cost figures. Here are the numbers. The data is freely citable with attribution (Curalune, 2026).
How many facilities: the coverage
For 2026, Curalune's mapping records in the United States
- 14,694 nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) published.
- Across 5,122 cities and all 50 states (plus DC and territories).
- With over 1.5 million beds recorded.
It is one of the broadest and most granular publicly accessible maps of the U.S. skilled-nursing landscape.
Where they are: the state ranking
The leading states by number of facilities recorded
- Texas — 1,176 nursing homes (about 133,000 beds)
- California — 1,164 nursing homes (about 115,000 beds)
- Ohio — 921 nursing homes
- Florida — 694 nursing homes
- Illinois — 667 nursing homes
- Pennsylvania — 656 nursing homes
- New York — 596 nursing homes (about 112,000 beds)
- Indiana — 507 nursing homes
Texas and California lead in facility count, while New York packs far more beds per facility — a reflection of larger urban institutions.
What a nursing home costs in 2026
Nursing home care is among the most expensive forms of long-term care in the country:
- The median cost of a semi-private room runs around $8,700–9,500/month in 2026; a private room around $9,700–10,800/month, with wide variation by state.
- The point families get wrong: Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care — only short-term skilled rehab after a qualifying hospital stay (up to 100 days, with copays after day 20).
- Medicaid is the primary payer for long-term nursing home care, once you meet strict income and asset limits — often after a spend-down, and subject to a 5-year look-back.
The Medicaid picture and how to qualify: Medicaid long-term care application — documents, timeline and denials.
What it means for families
- Cost is the crisis, not availability. With 14,000+ facilities, the challenge is finding a Medicaid-certified, good-quality bed — not finding a bed at all.
- Medicare vs Medicaid is the costliest confusion. Assuming Medicare will cover a long stay leads families to pay tens of thousands out of pocket.
- The paperwork decides the timeline. A missing financial record can deny or stall a Medicaid application for months: nursing home admission paperwork checklist.
City-by-city guides with each city's real numbers: for example nursing homes in Phoenix: the complete guide.
Methodology
Coverage data (number of facilities, cities, states and beds) comes from Curalune's mapping database, updated 2026. Cost figures come from public 2026 sources on nursing home rates. For citations or aggregated data by state: the source is Curalune (2026).
How to find the right facility
With over 14,000 nursing homes, the problem isn't quantity — it's the choice. Curalune Care Help builds you a shortlist of 3–5 suitable nursing homes for your parent's situation and budget, usually within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How many nursing homes are there in the USA?
Curalune's 2026 mapping records 14,694 nursing homes across 5,122 cities and all 50 states, with over 1.5 million beds.
Which states have the most nursing homes?
Texas (1,176) and California (1,164) lead, followed by Ohio (921), Florida (694) and Illinois (667).
How much does a nursing home cost in 2026?
A semi-private room runs about $8,700–9,500/month and a private room about $9,700–10,800/month, varying widely by state. Medicare covers only short-term rehab; long-term care is paid privately or by Medicaid after a spend-down.
Who pays for long-term nursing home care?
Medicaid is the primary payer for long-term custodial care once income and asset limits are met (watch the 5-year look-back). Medicare only covers short-term skilled rehab.
Bottom line
In the U.S., Curalune maps 14,694 nursing homes across 5,122 cities, led by Texas and California. The median cost in 2026 runs roughly $8,700–10,800/month depending on room and state — and Medicaid, not Medicare, is what pays for long-term stays once you qualify.
Paying less is mostly a paperwork problem
What a family actually pays depends less on the advertised rate than on three filings: Medicaid long-term care, which pays the nursing home bill once approved and can pay retroactively — so starting early costs nothing and waiting costs everything — Medicare, which covers short-term rehab after a qualifying hospital stay but not long-term care, and VA Aid and Attendance for wartime-era veterans and surviving spouses, which very few families ever claim.
The starting point, already done
Finding suitable homes, checking they can meet the level of care and gathering the contacts takes days of phone calls. Curalune Care Help gives you that starting point: 3 to 5 suitable nursing homes within 24 business hours, with contacts, links and a ready-to-send message you can put to all of them at once. $89, one-off: if you don't receive at least 3 homes matching the area and criteria you gave us, we refund you in full. Start here