Healthcare Insights
How many skilled nursing facilities are in the U.S.?
A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a type of inpatient facility that performs both long- and short-term rehabilitation for patients of all ages and backgrounds. These facilities provide 24-hour medical support to patients requiring transitional care following a qualifying hospital stay for illness, injury, or surgery.
As of March 2023, Definitive Healthcare currently tracks more than 18,700 active skilled nursing facilities in the U.S. In fact, there are more SNFs than hospitals in the United States. The number of SNFs in each state varies greatly, as some states have more than 1,000 SNFs and other states have fewer than 30. The overall average of SNFs per state is 367.
Using Definitive Healthcare’s LongTermCareView data, we ranked the U.S. states with the most skilled nursing facilities. Data on these facilities is updated daily and based on proprietary research.
States with the most skilled nursing facilities
| Rank | State | Number of SNFs | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 1,530 | Explore |
| 2 | California | 1,367 | Explore |
| 3 | Ohio | 1,114 | Explore |
| 4 | Illinois | 854 | Explore |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 779 | Explore |
| 6 | Florida | 777 | Explore |
| 7 | New York | 693 | Explore |
| 8 | Missouri | 611 | Explore |
| 9 | Indiana | 609 | Explore |
| 10 | Iowa | 553 | Explore |
Fig. 1. Data is from Definitive Healthcare’s LongTermCareView database. Data accessed on March 20, 2023.
Which states have the most skilled nursing facilities?
Texas has by far the most skilled nursing facilities in the country, with 1,530. While Texas has a total population of 28 million people, the second highest in the nation, residents over the age of 65 only make up 12.3% of the state’s total population. Texas is one of the largest states in the country by both size and population, and its top position on our SNF list reflects that.
The state with the second most SNFs is California, with 1,367. California is the largest state in the country by population, with more than 39 million people living there. The state with the third most SNFs is Ohio, with 1,114. Ohio has a population of more than 11 million people, with residents over age 65 representing 7% of the state’s population. Despite it not being as physically large as states like Texas and California, Ohio is one of the most densely populated states in the nation, possibly accounting for the high ranking for number of SNFs.
States with the fewest skilled nursing facilities
| Rank | State | Number of SNFs | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 23 | Explore |
| 2 | Alaska | 32 | Explore |
| 3 | Delaware | 47 | Explore |
| 4 | Vermont | 50 | Explore |
| 5 | Wyoming | 62 | Explore |
| 6 | Hawaii | 64 | Explore |
| 7 | Nevada | 80 | Explore |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 89 | Explore |
| 9 | New Mexico | 92 | Explore |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 94 | Explore |
Fig. 1. Data is from Definitive Healthcare’s LongTermCareView database. Data accessed on March 20, 2023.
Which states have the fewest skilled nursing facilities?
Although it's not technically a state, the District of Columbia has the fewest skilled nursing facilities in our ranking, with 23 SNFs. Washington, D.C., is a relatively small city, with a population under 800,000, thus limiting the need for SNFs.
The state with the second lowest number of SNF’s is Alaska, with only 32 SNFs. Alaska is one of the most sparsely populated states in the country. The third-place state in our SNF ranking is Delaware, the smallest U.S. state, with 47 SNFs.
The following map is a good visual representation of the number of SNFs across the country.
Where are the most skilled nursing facilities located?
How many beds does the average skilled nursing facility have?
Skilled nursing facilities come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some have more than 800 beds, while others have less than 10. Across the United States, SNFs have an average of around 116 beds. This number is smaller than most hospitals, which is a testament to the more precise and individualized care than SNFs provide.
Why are skilled nursing facilities important to healthcare?
Skilled nursing facilities are important to healthcare because they provide vital post-discharge care to patients who might require additional support following their inpatient hospital stay, particularly for senior citizens. Without the care of a SNF, the possibility of the patient developing post-discharge complications and having to be re-admitted increases significantly.
Most patients are covered by insurance for short-term inpatient stays. Skilled nursing facilities help ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care and, in reducing post-discharge complications, also help to control associated healthcare costs.
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