U.S. News & World Report Publishes 2027 Best Nursing Homes Ratings to Help Families Navigate Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care

National analysis highlights top-performing skilled nursing facilities in clinical outcomes, safety and resident care.

Summary

• More than 14,600 skilled nursing facilities evaluated across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
• 18% of evaluated nursing homes earned a "Best Nursing Home" designation for 2027.
• Two care categories evaluated: Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care.
• 17 distinct quality measures assessed per category, including staffing consistency and clinical safety outcomes.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2026 — U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in healthcare decision support, today announced the 2027 Best Nursing Homes ratings. The new edition evaluates more than 14,600 U.S. nursing homes and recognizes nearly 1 in 5 (18%) as Best Nursing Homes in Short-Term Rehabilitation, Long-Term Care or both.

Skilled nursing facilities offer vital care for patients recovering from hospital stays as well as long-term residents, providing assistance with activities of daily living – such as physical rehabilitation, medication management and chronic disease support.

Since 2009, U.S. News' annual Best Nursing Homes analysis has served as an independent, data-driven guide for families navigating short-term rehabilitation or long-term care choices. The 2027 ratings rely on a comprehensive evaluation framework assessing 17 distinct quality measures across both Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care categories, capturing post-acute care quality, hospital readmission rates and other indicators of quality.

"Choosing a nursing home – whether for short-term rehabilitation following a surgery or illness like stroke, or for long-term residency – is one of the most crucial healthcare decisions a family can make," said Jordan Derk, Ph.D., senior care researcher at U.S. News. "The Best Nursing Homes ratings are designed to equip families with transparent quality metrics so they can make confident, informed care decisions alongside their healthcare providers."

Key Findings from the 2027 Best Nursing Homes Analysis, on average:

• Fewer ER Visits in Short-Term Rehab: Patients at top-performing nursing homes experience 19% fewer emergency room visits than the national average.
• Reduced Hospital Readmissions in Long-Term Care: Residents at Best Nursing Homes have 21% fewer hospital readmissions compared to other facilities.
• Higher Total Staffing: U.S. News Best Nursing Homes provide 19% more total staffing per resident per day compared to the national average.
• More Physical Therapy: Top-performing skilled nursing facilities offer two times as much physical therapy per resident per day as the national average.

Note: Averages are calculated by U.S. News from data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The following U.S. metropolitan areas, listed in alphabetical order, all have 10 or more Best Nursing Homes:

• Allentown, Pa.
• Atlanta
• Baltimore
• Boston
• Buffalo, N.Y.
• Charlotte, N.C.
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
• Columbus, Ohio
• Denver
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Detroit
• Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Hartford, Conn.
• Honolulu
• Houston
• Indianapolis
• Jacksonville, Fla.
• Kansas City, Mo.
• Lancaster, Pa.
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Louisville, Ky.
• Milwaukee
• Nashville, Tenn.
• New York
• Omaha, Neb.
• Orlando, Fla.
• Oxnard, Calif.
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• Portland, Maine
• Portland, Ore.
• Providence, R.I.
• Sacramento, Calif.
• Salt Lake City
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• San Jose, Calif.
• Seattle
• Washington, D.C.

For more information, visit USNews.com and use #BestNursingHomes on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and X. To take the next step, compare local skilled nursing facilities and learn how to use the Best Nursing Homes ratings.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.