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 Massachusetts — 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.
Andover Community Residences provides supportive housing and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The focus is on fostering independence and community integration within a caring environment.
Visit website →The oldest residential therapeutic community in the United States, founded in 1913, where adults with mental health challenges live and work alongside staff families on a Berkshires farm. Shared work in the dairy, bakery, and gardens is at the heart of recovery.
Visit website →The Boston Home provides specialized residential care and services for adults with advanced multiple sclerosis and other progressive neurological diseases. Their community focuses on enhancing quality of life through compassionate care and engaging activities.
Visit website →The Boston Living Center provides a supportive community and essential services for people living with HIV/AIDS. It offers a safe space for members to connect, access resources, and receive care.
Visit website →The Farm at New England Village offers a unique residential program for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. It provides a supportive, farm-based environment focused on skill-building and community engagement.
Visit website →Pine Street Inn is one of New England's largest homeless services organizations, providing a comprehensive range of programs including emergency shelter, street outreach, and supportive housing. They offer a pathway to stability and independence for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Visit website →A 41-home cohousing community near Porter Square, one of the larger urban cohousing developments in New England. Residents share meals, courtyards, and committees that keep community life humming.
An urban cohousing community in North Cambridge with private condos and generous shared spaces including a common kitchen and gardens. It welcomes a multigenerational mix of households seeking city living with real neighbors.
Visit website →Great Barrington Cohousing is an established community in the Berkshires, offering a balance of private homes and shared spaces. Residents actively participate in the community's governance and social life.
Visit website →An urban cohousing condominium community in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, completed in 2005. Its thirty households share meals, a common house, and a walkable city life.
A cohousing community in central Massachusetts built with a strong commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Neighbors share a common house, meals, and land with the adjacent Camelot Cohousing community.
New View Cohousing is a well-established community designed with shared spaces and resident participation in mind. It offers a balance of private homes and vibrant common life, fostering strong neighborly bonds.
Visit website →Northeast Village Cohousing is an established community in Acton, Massachusetts, offering a blend of private homes and shared spaces. Residents actively participate in the governance and maintenance of their vibrant neighborhood.
Visit website →One of the first cohousing communities built in the eastern United States, completed in 1994 in Amherst. Residents of all ages share a large common house, meals, and decades of neighborly tradition.
A cohousing neighborhood of clustered, energy-conscious homes on the edge of Northampton. Families, singles, and elders share common space, gardens, and an active community life.
Genesis House provides affordable, supportive housing for men in recovery from addiction. It offers a structured, community-based living environment that fosters personal growth and lasting sobriety.
Visit website →Haley House operates a live-in community dedicated to social justice and service, running a soup kitchen, food pantry, and other programs. Residents commit to a year of service and communal living, sharing meals and responsibilities.
Visit website →Monson Arts offers residencies for artists and writers, providing private studios, living quarters, and a supportive community environment. Residents share meals and engage in creative pursuits, fostering a vibrant artistic exchange.
Visit website →The Common Place is a coliving house in Worcester fostering community among its residents through shared living and intentional interaction. It aims to create an affordable and supportive urban living experience.
An ecovillage and spiritual community founded in 1978 by former members of Scotland's Findhorn community. Residents and guests practice organic gardening, natural building, and meditation, and visitors are welcomed for tours and workshops.
Visit website →This community focuses on sustainable living and shared responsibilities, fostering a close-knit environment among its residents. They engage in various projects together, from gardening to community maintenance.
The Center for Mindful Learning offers a residential program focused on mindfulness, meditation, and personal development. Participants live together in a supportive environment, engaging in daily practices and shared learning experiences.
Visit website →This community is centered around sustainable agriculture and simple living, offering a space for individuals to connect with the land and each other. Residents participate in farm work, shared meals, and community activities.
While primarily an educational institution, The Farm School includes a residential community for staff and participants dedicated to sustainable agriculture. Life revolves around farming, education, and shared meals.
Visit website →The Grail is an international women's movement with a presence in Worcester, fostering spiritual growth, social justice, and community living. Members engage in shared prayer, reflection, and action to create a more just and sustainable world.
Visit website →This is a Hutterite community, a communal Anabaptist group that lives a shared life based on their faith. They practice community of goods and strive for self-sufficiency through farming and various trades.
Woolman Hill is a Quaker-affiliated retreat and conference center that also hosts a small residential community. Residents contribute to the upkeep and mission of the center, living simply and communally.
Visit website →This Benedictine monastery for women offers a contemplative life and is known for its agricultural work and arts. While technically in Connecticut, it serves a regional community including Massachusetts.
Visit website →A Benedictine monastery on Boston's South Shore whose monks offer hospitality, retreats, and an interfaith lecture series. Guests are welcome for quiet days, spiritual direction, and daily prayer.
Visit website →A Trappist monastery famous for Trappist Preserves and Spencer ales, home to a community of Cistercian monks. Men seeking silence and prayer are welcomed for retreats in the abbey guesthouse.
Visit website →The Abbey of St. Hyacinth is a contemplative community of Benedictine nuns dedicated to prayer and monastic life. Guests are welcome for retreats and to share in the spiritual rhythm of the abbey.
A nationally celebrated resident-led organization in Roxbury and North Dorchester that used a community land trust to rebuild its neighborhood without displacement. It welcomes residents into planning, youth programs, and shared stewardship of land.
Visit website →Hanscom AFB Family Housing provides a strong community environment for military families stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base. It offers various housing options and numerous amenities designed to foster connection and support among residents.
Visit website →The Community Builders (TCB) is a leading nonprofit developer of mixed-income housing. They own or manage more than 11,000 apartments in 14 states, including many in Massachusetts, fostering strong communities through affordable housing and resident services.
Visit website →Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (CMM) is an interfaith organization that works to build stronger communities through social justice initiatives. While not a residential community itself, it fosters community engagement and collaboration across various neighborhoods.
Visit website →The original member-driven 'village' for aging in community, founded in 2002 and the model for hundreds of villages nationwide. Members share programs, volunteer support, and services that make staying in their own homes joyful and practical.
Visit website →Concord Riverwalk is an active adult community offering independent living with a focus on social engagement and shared amenities. Residents enjoy a vibrant lifestyle with opportunities for connection and community activities.
Visit website →Rogerson House is an assisted living and memory care community dedicated to supporting seniors with cognitive impairments. They offer a secure and engaging environment with personalized care plans and therapeutic programs.
Visit website →A senior living community providing independent and assisted living options, fostering a supportive and engaging environment. Residents benefit from a range of amenities and programs designed to promote well-being and connection.
Visit website →The Commons in Lincoln is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) offering a full spectrum of living options from independent to skilled nursing. It fosters a close-knit community through shared meals, activities, and a focus on resident engagement.
Visit website →This vibrant senior living community offers independent and assisted living options, fostering a supportive environment for residents. It provides a range of amenities and activities designed to promote engagement and well-being.
The Pinehills is a large master-planned community featuring diverse housing options and a strong emphasis on active adult living. It offers numerous amenities, clubs, and events designed to foster a sense of community among residents.
Visit website →This 55+ community offers luxurious condominium living with a focus on active adult lifestyles. Residents can enjoy a clubhouse, fitness center, and various social gatherings within a friendly neighborhood setting.
Visit website →The Residences at Wingate offers luxury independent and assisted living with a focus on hospitality and personalized care. Residents enjoy a rich social calendar and opportunities to connect in a sophisticated setting.
Visit website →Offering independent, assisted living, and memory care, this community provides a continuum of care in a comfortable setting. Residents enjoy a variety of social programs and personalized support.
The Village at Duxbury is a vibrant senior living community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care options. Residents enjoy a wide array of amenities and social activities designed to foster connection.
Visit website →This charming 55+ community provides a peaceful and engaging environment for active adults. Residents benefit from a clubhouse, walking trails, and a close-knit atmosphere that encourages social interaction.
Visit website →This is an active adult community offering independent living options for seniors. Residents enjoy a vibrant social calendar and amenities designed to foster connection and an engaging lifestyle.
Visit website →This community provides independent, assisted living, and memory care services in a welcoming coastal setting. It emphasizes a vibrant lifestyle with diverse activities and amenities designed to promote resident well-being and social connections.
Visit website →A vibrant 55+ community offering a range of housing options and amenities for an active lifestyle. Residents enjoy a clubhouse, fitness center, and numerous social clubs, fostering a strong sense of belonging.
Visit website →The Village at Willow Crossing is an active adult community offering independent living options for seniors. Residents enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle with opportunities for social engagement and a wide range of amenities.
Visit website →This senior living community provides independent and assisted living options within a supportive and engaging environment. Residents benefit from a wide array of programs and services that encourage social interaction and well-being.
Visit website →This active adult community offers a vibrant lifestyle for those 55 and better, featuring a clubhouse, fitness center, and various social activities. Residents enjoy maintenance-free living with a strong sense of community.
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.
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