A directory of belonging
Places where community is built into where you live — not another club to visit, but somewhere the people around you are part of daily life. Monasteries that welcome guests, cohousing, co-ops, ecovillages, seniors villages, and neighbourhoods that actually function. Start where you are.
Compiled with AI, checked by nobody yet. These are starting points, gathered for Iowa — real places as far as we know, but details change. Verify with a phone call before you set your heart or drive across the state.
Stonehill Communities provides a continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care. Their mission is to offer compassionate care and a supportive environment for seniors.
Visit website →Iowa's first cohousing community, built on a hillside near downtown Iowa City with energy-efficient homes and a shared common house. It welcomes people of all ages committed to sustainable, sociable living.
A member-owned housing cooperative offering affordable rooms in shared houses near the University of Iowa. It welcomes students and townspeople alike who want democratic, communal home life.
Designed for active adults 62+, this cooperative provides a vibrant and secure community environment. Residents enjoy private homes within a larger community, fostering social interaction and shared responsibilities.
Visit website →This cooperative offers active adults 62+ a maintenance-free, community-focused living experience. Members own a share in the cooperative and enjoy shared amenities and social activities.
Visit website →An incorporated city near Fairfield built by the Transcendental Meditation movement, with homes oriented by Vedic architecture and twice-daily group meditation. It welcomes meditators and curious visitors from around the world.
A Trappist abbey founded in 1849 by Irish monks on the farmland of eastern Iowa, known today for its handcrafted Trappist caskets. Guests are welcomed for free silent retreats in the monastery guesthouse.
Visit website →A community of Trappistine nuns on bluffs above the Mississippi River, supporting themselves by making caramels. They welcome women and men for quiet retreats sharing the sisters' prayer.
Visit website →Bickford Senior Living offers assisted living and memory care services in a homelike environment. Residents enjoy a variety of activities and personalized care plans designed to promote well-being and engagement.
Visit website →Deerfield is a premier senior living community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Residents benefit from a maintenance-free lifestyle, extensive amenities, and opportunities for social engagement.
Visit website →Edencrest at Green Meadows provides assisted living and memory care with a focus on resident-centered services. The community offers a vibrant social calendar and supportive staff to enhance daily life.
Visit website →Friendship Manor offers affordable independent living for seniors in a welcoming community setting. Residents can enjoy social activities and convenient access to local amenities.
Visit website →Friendship Village is a continuing care retirement community dedicated to enhancing the lives of seniors. It offers various living arrangements and a wide array of services designed to promote well-being and social connection.
Visit website →Oaknoll is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. Residents enjoy a vibrant lifestyle with numerous activities, amenities, and a strong sense of community.
Visit website →The Views Senior Living at Marion offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care options. Residents benefit from a range of amenities and programs designed to foster an active and fulfilling lifestyle.
Visit website →Western Home Communities provides a full continuum of care for seniors, from independent living to memory support. Their campus fosters a supportive environment with diverse housing options and engaging programs.
Visit website →The other path
If your state's list is thin, that's not a dead end; it's the reason this project exists. Three friends on one street is already a community. The guide walks you through the whole path.
Start a community — the guide Create or join a group Register your interestBrowse by state