Other senior care options in Massachusetts:

Best Independent Living in Massachusetts

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 231 independent living communities in Massachusetts using Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence (AGE) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in MA
Reviewed by
Last updated
Jul 2026
We analyzed
231 homes
Other senior care options in Massachusetts:
Avg Walk Score: 53/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Massachusetts. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 94The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Massachusetts. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Independent Living around Massachusetts

The Commons in Lincoln
IL
AL
MC
NH
SNF
Lincoln
32
Facility 32
MA AVG 94
Rank #268 / 276
Yes-
5
Facility 5
MA AVG 53
Rank #485 / 498
1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
C-No-
Hebrew SeniorLife
IL
AL
HC
HOS
MC
NH
PC
SNF
Boston (Roslindale)
50
Facility 50
MA AVG 94
Rank #232 / 276
No-
38
Facility 38
MA AVG 53
Rank #324 / 498
---No-
River Falls Senior Living
IL
NH
AL
Fall River
90
Facility 90
MA AVG 94
Rank #125 / 276
No-
93
Facility 93
MA AVG 53
Rank #24 / 498
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
11
Facility 11
MA AVG 24
Rank #153 / 180
-YesNo
Brookdale Cushing Park
IL
AL
MC
Framingham (Emeritus At Farm Pond)
100
Facility 100
MA AVG 94
Rank #94 / 276
Yes22
23
Facility 23
MA AVG 53
Rank #395 / 498
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
48
Facility 48
MA AVG 24
Rank #1 / 180
A+NoNo
The Village at Willow Crossings
IL
AL
MC
RC
Mansfield (Mansfield Center)
104
Facility 104
MA AVG 94
Rank #89 / 276
Yes18
21
Facility 21
MA AVG 53
Rank #412 / 498
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
C-NoNo
The Gables at Winchester
IL
AL
RC
Winchester (Cambridge Street)
123
Facility 123
MA AVG 94
Rank #55 / 276
Yes-
52
Facility 52
MA AVG 53
Rank #250 / 498
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
35
Facility 35
MA AVG 24
Rank #20 / 180
-NoNo
AVIVA Country Club Heights
IL
AL
MC
RC
Woburn (Rehabilitation Way)
107
Facility 107
MA AVG 94
Rank #86 / 276
No24
50
Facility 50
MA AVG 53
Rank #259 / 498
Traditional (83), Special Care (24)
30
Facility 30
MA AVG 24
Rank #27 / 180
ANoNo
Atria Woodbriar Park
IL
AL
MC
RC
Falmouth (Teaticket)
95
Facility 95
MA AVG 94
Rank #110 / 276
Yes50
55
Facility 55
MA AVG 53
Rank #233 / 498
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
30
Facility 30
MA AVG 24
Rank #27 / 180
-NoNo
Cadbury Commons
IL
AL
MC
Cambridge (Neighborhood Nine)
74
Facility 74
MA AVG 94
Rank #176 / 276
Yes24
86
Facility 86
MA AVG 53
Rank #81 / 498
Private Rooms / Semi-Private Rooms
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
A+NoNo
Keystone Commons
IL
AL
MC
Ludlow (Scott Corners)
66
Facility 66
MA AVG 94
Rank #195 / 276
Yes25
8
Facility 8
MA AVG 53
Rank #480 / 498
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
30
Facility 30
MA AVG 24
Rank #27 / 180
-YesNo
Carleton-Willard Village
IL
NH
CH
Bedford
179
Facility 179
MA AVG 94
Rank #12 / 276
No-
6
Facility 6
MA AVG 53
Rank #484 / 498
1 Bed / 2 Bed Apartments-A+No-
Thirwood Place
IL
AL
South Yarmouth
69
Facility 69
MA AVG 94
Rank #190 / 276
Yes-
12
Facility 12
MA AVG 53
Rank #455 / 498
1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
-NoNo
Autumn Glen at Dartmouth
IL
AL
MC
Dartmouth (Smith Mills)
85
Facility 85
MA AVG 94
Rank #145 / 276
Yes37
21
Facility 21
MA AVG 53
Rank #412 / 498
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
-NoNo
Cabot Park Village
IL
Newtonville
-Yes-
71
Facility 71
MA AVG 53
Rank #165 / 498
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
C-No-
Grove Manor Estates
IL
AL
MC
Braintree (Grove Street)
70
Facility 70
MA AVG 94
Rank #184 / 276
No15
54
Facility 54
MA AVG 53
Rank #238 / 498
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
-NoNo
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Overview of The Commons in Lincoln

Burrowed in the inviting neighborhood of Lincoln, MA, The Commons in Lincoln is an enticing senior living community offering professional care services. This community is accessible to Boston and its restaurants, music, museums and more. Spacious apartments and cottages are available for its residents tailore to their preferences and needs.

With its exceptional amenities and services, residents can enjoy a fine dining and housekeeping and linen services. Rejuvenate your body through its heated indoor pool and spa. Further self-care efforts by going to an on-site salon and barbershop. Meet new people and create enjoyable experiences at the walking trails and paths. Participate in various wellness and other social activities to boost endurance and engagement. With The Commons in Lincoln, seniors are assured of a classic retirement.

Contact The Commons in Lincoln

Overview of Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife has run a 50-bed skilled nursing facility at 1200 Centre Street in Boston’s Roslindale neighborhood since 1903. That’s over 120 years in the same line of work, and it’s affiliated with Harvard Medical School.

Getting around the neighborhood takes some planning. Walk Score sits at 38, somewhat walkable, so a few errands are doable on foot but most need a car.

The care list here runs long: skilled nursing sits alongside post-acute rehabilitative care, short-term and long-term rehab, and long-term chronic care. Memory care runs through the Wolk Center for Memory Health specifically, not just a generic wing. Nursing staff put in close to 4 hours and 40 minutes of total care per resident each day, and the building is wheelchair accessible with 24-hour staffing in place.

What sets this place apart is the sheer range of named programs beyond standard nursing care: outpatient services, in-home care, intergenerational programming, expressive art therapies, a Russian bilingual program, spiritual care, palliative care, and even an elder abuse shelter and prevention program. That’s not a typical lineup for a nursing home.

State inspections here have tended to center on dietary and food service and medication management, themes that show up across nursing homes broadly rather than anything specific to this one.

Altogether, Hebrew SeniorLife is a long-running, well-connected skilled nursing facility with more specialized programming than most, built on more than a century of continuous operation in Boston.

Contact Hebrew SeniorLife

Overview of River Falls Senior Living

Age gracefully at River Falls Senior Living, a blissful haven in Fall River, MA, offering independent living, assisted living, nursing services, and respite care. Alongside comprehensive care options, the community has beautifully furnished and cozy studio to two-bedroom floor plans that aim to keep residents comfortable and safe. Residents can also keep their peace of mind with maintenance services.

Encouraging residents to live actively and make new friends, a well-thought-out slate of fun activities and enriching programs is conducted. Residents enjoy mealtimes with delicious and well-balanced dining options that cater to their dietary needs and preferences. With its warm and friendly environment, the community strives to help residents thrive in their golden years.

Contact River Falls Senior Living

Overview of Brookdale Cushing Park

Nestled on over 100 acres in Framingham, Massachusetts, Brookdale Cushing Park offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care services to seniors seeking a high-quality lifestyle. With three levels of care on a single campus, residents can easily transition as their needs change, paying only for the services they require. The community provides a customized service plan, with basic utilities and maintenance typically included in the monthly rate. Brookdale Cushing Park’s compassionate care team assists residents with daily activities, while independent living residents enjoy maintenance-free living with access to restaurant-style dining, social activities, and wellness amenities.

Assisted living offers personalized care in a warm, welcoming environment, with programs to keep residents engaged and connected. Memory care features specially designed spaces and trained associates to guide residents living with Alzheimer’s or dementia through a daily path of meaningful engagement. Whether tending to a garden, participating in fitness classes, or enjoying a decadent meal with friends, Brookdale Cushing Park empowers residents to live life to the fullest.

Contact Brookdale Cushing Park

Overview of The Village at Willow Crossings

Settled in the quiet community of Mansfield, MA, The Village at Willow Crossings is an enticing senior living community that offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and respite care services. Beautifully appointed and spacious accommodations including one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and memory care studio are available for its residents. In terms of memory care, this community provides specialized programs such as research-based therapy and activities to stimulate memory for those with cognitive conditions.

Explore its top-notch amenities and services wherein residents can enjoy inspired dining with chef-prepared meals based on dietary needs, weekly housekeeping, laundry, linen service, and transportation services. Join in diverse options for social activities based on your interests and create meaningful memories with new companions. Maximize comfort and relaxation by visiting its beautifully shared spaces. With The Village at Willow Crossings, seniors are assured of a secure living.

Contact The Village at Willow Crossings

Overview of The Gables at Winchester

The Gables at Winchester is one of the trusted assisted senior living communities in the city– offering assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. They understand that an enriching senior living experience begins with the right lifestyle that reinvents the meaning of senior care. The home-like community enriches and encourages all residents to still live freely on their own terms while receiving the necessary support. The Gables is a home that honors your trust in them; they ensure that seniors are given the utmost level of care and respect.

The vibrant home offers a list of services that include 24-hour nursing supervision, transportation, housekeeping, medication management, an emergency call response system in every room, and cozy outdoor and indoor common areas. Other activities include movie nights, fitness classes, and other scheduled social events.

Contact The Gables at Winchester

Overview of Aviva Country Club Heights

Aviva Country Club Heights is a captivating destination where elegance and serenity intertwine. It presents a range of living options, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care, catering to the diverse needs of its residents. Choose from thoughtfully designed one or two-bedroom floor plans that exude sophistication and charm. As residents step outside, they are greeted by meticulously landscaped grounds, a sanctuary of natural beauty. They can also engage their green thumb with the home’s gardening opportunities while knowing that their cherished pets are not only welcomed but cherished within our pet-friendly community. With its picturesque location adjacent to a scenic golf course, Aviva Country Club Heights offers an enchanting retreat that seamlessly blends contemporary elegance with timeless allure, creating an atmosphere that is both modern and enduring.

Contact AVIVA Country Club Heights

Overview of Atria Woodbriar Park

Situated in the peaceful area of Falmouth, MA, Atria Woodbriar Park is a remarkable senior living community that specializes in assisted living and memory care. Dedicated to helping residents enjoy a comfortable retirement, the community offers residents with a range of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments for resting or hosting family and friends. Residents’ safety and comfort is guaranteed with a reliable care team that provides round-the-clock care and assistance.

The community elevates residents’ living experience even further by equipping them with Alexa Smart Home devices. Promoting an active and healthy lifestyle, the community offers enriching activities and nourishing, chef-prepared meals. Residents also benefit from a wide array of amenities, such as a swimming pool, a salon and spa, an onsite physician office space, a movie theater, a fitness center, pub, and relaxing outdoor spaces for a more enjoyable and convenient living experience.

Contact Atria Woodbriar Park

Overview of Cadbury Commons

Cadbury Commons has proudly remained a family-owned and operated haven for over 27 years in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their commitment to fostering both assisted independence and senior living is unwavering, offering a comprehensive range of services that include memory care. With an environment tailored to the needs of seniors, this residence thrives on vibrant activity, offering a diverse array of avenues for engaging new experiences, whether in the realms of business, education, travel, or the arts.

From a well-stocked library to a rejuvenating fitness center and a dedicated computer area, the community provides spaces for both personal growth and social interaction. The serene atmosphere is complemented by the convenience of an on-site salon and spa, ready to pamper and rejuvenate. Embracing pets and offering access to private off-street parking, Cadbury Commons creates an environment that feels like home, complete with memory care support groups that provide invaluable connections. Additionally, a variety of independent living floor plans cater to individual preferences, while the assisted living facilities ensure a seamless transition to a supportive and enriching lifestyle

Contact Cadbury Commons

Overview of Keystone Commons

Experience an exceptional stay with the Keystone Commons located in the vibrant neighborhood of Ludlow, MA. This community offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. Spacious and beautifully appointed accommodations ranging from one-bedroom to two-bedroom are available based on residents’ preferences. In terms of memory care, a cutting-edge program known as Holistic Harbors is thoughtfully designed to cater to the needs of those with cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Experience its above-and-beyond amenities and other services including weekly and bi-weekly housekeeping and linen services, on-site wellness resources, scheduled transportation, and valet service. Enjoy delightful and nutritious meals in elegant dining. Participate in diverse social activities and wellness programs to boost engagement and endurance. Equipped with the right tools and people, seniors can enjoy a wondrous retirement with the Keystone Commons.

Contact Keystone Commons

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
No paid rankings Communities cannot pay to influence placement.
How we're paid: If we help you find a community and you move in, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in Massachusetts

What is independent living?

Independent living communities are residential settings for active older adults — typically with private apartments or cottages, shared amenities (dining, fitness, activities), and no built-in medical care.

How many independent living communities are listed on this page?

This page features 231 independent living communities in Massachusetts. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in Massachusetts?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Massachusetts, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting independent living communities in Massachusetts?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.