The construction of senior housing in the United States has declined to its lowest point in over a decade, coinciding with a growing population in need of such facilities.
The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care reports that the number of senior housing units being built has dropped significantly, with only 0.4% inventory growth recorded in the first quarter of 2026, marking a historic low.
In North Texas, the older population is projected to increase by 33.5% over five years, with the number of residents aged 60 and over expected to rise from 573,265 in 2019 to 765,329 by 2024. Despite this growing demand, builders have significantly reduced new projects, with fewer than 15,000 senior housing units started in 2023, the lowest since 2010.
Lisa McCracken, head of research at NIC, attributes this slowdown to high costs for labor and materials, which have deterred many developers from initiating new projects. As a result, the market is currently delivering more units than it is beginning, exacerbating the situation for families searching for senior housing options.
The gap between supply and demand continues to widen, with occupancy rates rising for 19 consecutive quarters, reaching 89.5% in early 2026.
