Page 17 of Best Independent Living in Massachusetts

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 233 independent living communities in MA using MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in MA
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Massachusetts our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in Massachusetts.
233 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
Overview of Whaler’s Place

Whaler’s Place is a welcoming community set in the idyllic neighborhood of New Bedford, MA, offering independent living. Those 55+ can rest assured of finding the accommodation that best matches their preferences with thoughtfully designed one- and two-bedroom floor plans. With plenty of convenient apartment features and maintenance services, residents can keep their peace of mind and live without hassles.

Thriving local shops and recreational spaces are easily accessible, providing unending leisure and wellness opportunities. Residents also enjoy a variety of dining options that cater to their dietary needs, with a restaurant in the area and a fully equipped kitchen in each unit. The community strives to help residents live beyond their potential in their golden years.

Contact Whaler’s Place

Overview of The Arbors at Westfield Assisted Living and Memory Care

Nestled in the tranquil community of Westfield, MA, The Arbors at Westfield Assisted Living and Memory Care is an inviting senior living community that provides independent living, assisted living, short-term stay, and memory care services. Well-appointed and spacious accommodations with varying floor plans are available for its residents based on individual tastes. In terms of memory care, they developed the Reflections Memory Care Program, designed with four specific resident-centered focus areas to specifically address the challenges of living with memory loss and cognitive challenges. This includes Life Enrichment, Personal Care, Serenity Enrichment, and Multisensory Dining.

Offering top-of-the-line amenities and services, residents can enjoy the following: restaurant-style dining, assistance with daily living, emergency call system with pendants, laundry services, 7 days a week nursing team, and more. Meet new friends by participating in diverse recreational programs and other social activities that focus on the mind, body, and soul. At The Arbors at Westfield Assisted Living and Memory Care, seniors are assured of a wondrous retirement.

Contact The Arbors at Westfield Assisted Living and Memory Care

Overview of Rogers Hall

Peacefully set near Rogers Fort Hill Park in Lowell, MA, Rogers Hall is an outstanding 62+ community that offers independent living. Purposely built one-bedroom floor plans are provided in a vibrant and welcoming environment, so residents can feel a sense of belonging during their stay. Income qualifications and rent restrictions may apply, ensuring older adults can downsize according to their preferences and budgets.

With fun recreational activities and exciting events, residents are encouraged to live actively and make new friends. Shopping, dining, healthcare providers, and public transportation are easily accessible, providing endless leisure and wellness opportunities. Pets are also welcome to accompany residents to ease their loneliness. With its state-of-the-art amenities and friendly setting, residents are guaranteed to thrive in retirement.

Contact Rogers Hall

Melville Towers

850 Pleasant St #1, New Bedford, MA 02740
Overview of Melville Towers

Enjoy a vibrant lifestyle at Melville Towers, a distinct 62+ community in New Bedford, MA, offering independent living. Older adults can rest assured of finding the right accommodation based on their preferences with beautifully designed and spacious one- and two-bedroom floor plans. With emergency maintenance, management, and laundry spaces, residents are guaranteed a hassle-free living.

There’s no dull moment with plenty of engaging activities and enriching programs that highlight their interests and capabilities. Dining, shopping, and healthcare providers are easily accessible, providing unending recreation and wellness opportunities. Pets are also welcome to accompany residents to ease their loneliness. The community is ideal for those looking to live independently in retirement, especially with its warm and welcoming environment.

Contact Melville Towers

Overview of 1000 Southern Artery

Live a blissful retirement at 1000 Southern Artery, a vibrant community in Quincy, MA, offering independent living. Featuring a variety of specially designed accommodations, the community strives to keep residents comfortable and safe. Older adults who are non-residents are also welcome to participate in and enjoy classes offered through the community’s senior center.

With a well-thought-out calendar of engaging activities and exciting events, residents can spend their days as they please. Meals are also curated according to residents’ dietary needs and preferences, serving delightful dining options daily. Promoting a warm and welcoming environment, the community creates the ideal setting for residents to make the most of their best years.

Contact 1000 Southern Artery

Overview of Penelope 120 Apartments

Penelope 120 Senior Apartments operates an affordable independent living community on Central Street in Peabody, Massachusetts. Managed by AHEPA Senior Living as a non-profit, HUD Section 202 subsidized property, this three-story residential building provides 48 low-income one-bedroom apartments specifically for self-sufficient adults age 62 and older.

The surrounding neighborhood carries a walkability score of 70 out of 100, indicating a pedestrian-friendly environment where residents can access grocery stores, local pharmacies, and public transit connections entirely on foot. Individual floor plans feature dedicated, fully equipped kitchens, letting residents manage their own meal schedules without structured community dining plans.

Shared spaces on the property include an arts and crafts room, a fitness center, a game room, and a library, with an on-site service coordinator available to organize regular social seminars and connect residents to local elder benefit programs.

Prospective residents can get in touch with the Peabody management office to request an application and check current waitlist positions.

Contact Penelope 120 Apartments

Overview of Heatherwood Gracious Retirement Living

Tucked away in the scenic neighborhood of Tewksbury, MA, Heatherwood Gracious Retirement Living is a lively senior living community, offering independent living. A wide selection of apartments including studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments is available for residents to choose the residence that caters to their needs and preferences. With 24-hour emergency pull cords in each room and a team of dedicated managers who stay within the community and are available 24/7, residents are sure to enjoy a safe and secure living environment.

Encouraging connections and an invigorating lifestyle, the community conducts an array of recreational and entertainment activities and offers their resident travel program for unforgettable adventures and traveling experiences. Amenities like a well-curated library, beauty salon, spacious community rooms, movie theater, and an inviting walking paths and gardens provide plenty of chances for relaxation and leisure. Residents are also guaranteed more free time to explore the community with housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance being handled by an attentive team.

Contact Heatherwood Gracious Retirement Living

Overview of Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife offers nursing home, assisted living, home care, hospice care, independent living, memory care, palliative care, and skilled nursing in Boston’s Roslindale neighborhood. With 50 beds, the community may suit someone who prefers a smaller setting. Assisted living helps with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication while the resident keeps a private apartment. Memory care provides a secured, supervised setting for someone at risk of wandering.

Independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care. Nursing home and skilled nursing care have licensed nurses on site around the clock. Hospice and palliative care focus on comfort, while home care brings assistance to a person’s home. Respite care supports a short stay when a usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

Short term rehabilitation provides a temporary, recovery focused stay after illness or injury. Total nurse staffing is 4 hours and 39 minutes per resident per day, including 1 hour and 59 minutes of licensed nurse staffing from registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. The Wolk Center for Memory Health supports memory related care, and expressive art therapies give residents structured creative activities.

Rehabilitation services are available, and transportation can help residents who need a ride. Pets are allowed. A Walk Score of 38 out of 100 is classified as car dependent, meaning most errands require a car or a ride, so a resident who no longer drives would generally need transportation for routine outings.

Contact Hebrew SeniorLife

Overview of Southfield

Live the best of your golden years at Southfield, a distinct community in Plymouth, MA, offering independent living. The community has a variety of purposely built and spacious accommodations, dedicated to residents’ comfort and safety. Residents can keep their peace of mind and downsize according to their budgets with income-based rents.

Residents have convenient access to thriving local amenities and recreational spaces, providing unending leisure and wellness opportunities. With a variety of restaurants in the area, residents enjoy delightful dining options that cater to their dietary needs and preferences. The community’s vibrant and welcoming environment creates the ideal setting for residents to flourish in retirement.

Contact Southfield

Overview of The Highlands Gracious Retirement Living

Serving the ideal blend of comfort and active living, The Highlands Gracious Retirement Living is an exceptional senior living community in Westborough, MA, that offers independent living. Residents can choose from a variety of studio,one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans with easy access to convenient services and amenities. A team of kind managers live within the community and are available 24/7 to provide residents with utmost support and assistance.

Services like housekeeping, linen, transportation, and maintenance help residents to thrive and live a well-supported life. The community features plenty of inviting and warm common spaces that foster connections and an enriched way of life. Amenities such as chef-prepared meals, full-service salon, theater, library, craft room, TV room, and beautiful outdoor areas, further enhances residents’ living experience, giving them plenty of opportunities for enjoyment and relaxation.

Contact The Highlands Gracious Retirement Living

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.
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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 233 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.