New Delhi, Delhi, 14th of October, 2026 : India’s senior living market is entering a new phase, with growth increasingly moving beyond established metros into Tier-II cities and spiritual hubs, according to the latest report by proptech major Square Yards.
Titled “Expanding Horizons: The Next Growth Markets for Senior Living in India”, the report identifies 15 priority cities that could shape the next wave of senior housing, based on factors including healthcare access, connectivity, affordability, climate and social infrastructure.
India’s senior housing market is estimated at USD 4.31 billion in 2026. As aging accelerates alongside the nuclearisation of families, migration, and changing household structures, demand is shifting toward organised housing that combines independence with healthcare, safety, and community, the report points out.
Next growth centres: Cities that will shape the next decade for senior living
The report finds that the next phase of senior living will be defined by a broader geographic footprint. While Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai remain important senior-living markets, cities such as Coimbatore, Vadodara, Nashik, Kochi and Mysuru are gaining ground.
The report lists spiritual centres, including Ayodhya, Varanasi, Haridwar and Tirupati, to be emerging as distinct retirement and second-home destinations.
According to the report, Tier-II cities offer relatively affordable housing, improving healthcare infrastructure and a more manageable pace of life while spiritual hubs bring an additional pull through cultural familiarity, community and retirement aspirations.
However, the opportunity comes with a clear infrastructure requirement. Healthcare partnerships, emergency response systems, reliable operators and transparent service models will be critical to building confidence among seniors and their families, the report adds.
Senior living moves beyond housing
The geographic expansion of senior living also reflects a broader change in how Indians are thinking about retirement.
As senior living evolves into a convergence of residential real estate, healthcare, hospitality and wellness, projects that simply provide age-friendly apartments may struggle to meet the expectations of an increasingly discerning senior population, the report highlights.
The next generation of communities will need to support mobility, preventive healthcare, social engagement and day-to-day independence while giving families confidence that care is accessible when required.
“India is observing the emergence of a multi-billion-dollar asset class driven by a generation of seniors, seeking not only assistance but also autonomy, specialised wellness and a high quality of life. The future of senior housing in India will be defined not only by unit count but by how intelligently developments respond to care needs, accessibility and social connectivity. Integrating reliable medical access with dignified lifestyle ecosystems will be the benchmark for the sector’s long-term scale and credibility,” said said Tanuj Shori, Founder & CEO, Square Yards
Amenities to be the key differentiators
With India’s senior living market set to reach USD 11.43 billion by 2031, wellness-led amenities, the report highlights, could emerge as a decisive differentiator for Indian developers, seeking to capture the next phase of growth in this segment.
“As older homebuyers increasingly prioritise healthy ageing, independence and quality of life over conventional housing features, projects that integrate preventive healthcare, physiotherapy, fitness programmes, nutritious dining, mental wellness and community engagement into everyday living can command greater trust and stand apart from competing developments. For developers, this approach can strengthen brand positioning, improve resident retention and create opportunities for recurring service-led revenue, making wellness not merely an amenity but a core business proposition,” it says.
“Senior living is increasingly about value, not just location. Many people are willing to move to smaller centres for wellness-led communities with rich amenities, better care and a more comfortable lifestyle that fits their budget.,” says Sunita Mishra, Vice President – Research & Insights, Square Yards.
About Square Yards
Square Yards is India’s largest Integrated Real Estate platform, with category leadership across multiple touchpoints of the consumer home ownership journey. Backed by
urbanisation and rising disposable incomes as the core theme, Square Yards, with 8 million+ monthly traffic and ~USD 10.8 billion in annual GTV, is the largest and asset-light proxy play to India’s growing residential demand story. One of the few Indian start-ups to taste global success, the company has presence in 100+ cities across 9 countries and is at the forefront of technology adoption in the sector, with multiple patents across VR/AI domains.
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