Residential conditions and life satisfaction among elderly urban dwellers in India using LASI survey

India is undergoing rapid demographic and urban transitions, with the older population expected to increase substantially over the coming decades and nearly half of the population projected to reside in urban areas by mid-century. These shifts pose important challenges to the well-being of older adults, notably regarding housing quality, neighbourhood safety, and access to basic amenities. This study examines the association between residential conditions and life satisfaction among older adults living in urban India, using data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1 (2017–18). Life satisfaction was measured using the Satisfaction With Life Scale and analysed as a continuous outcome. Ordinary least squares regression was employed to estimate mean differences in life satisfaction associated with residential conditions, while quantile regression was used to assess heterogeneity across the life satisfaction distribution. Propensity score matching was conducted as a robustness analysis to address potential selection bias related to housing defects. The results indicate that access to electricity, clean cooking fuel, improved sanitation, and better housing quality were positively associated with higher life satisfaction. In contrast, perceived insecurity at home and in the neighbourhood was associated with significantly lower life satisfaction. Quantile regression revealed that residential disadvantages had more potent effects among older adults with lower baseline life satisfaction. Findings from propensity score matching further confirmed that residing in housing with structural defects was independently associated with reduced life satisfaction. Overall, the study underscores the importance of age-friendly urban environments and highlights the need for policies that improve housing quality, ensure access to essential services, and enhance neighbourhood safety to promote well-being among India’s growing urban elderly population.