Page 6 of Best Independent Living in Massachusetts

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 239 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.
239 homes
Other senior care options in Massachusetts:

Compare Independent Living around Massachusetts

Info below is compiled from the MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs, senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment. CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community): A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Licensed beds designated for special-care services (e.g. memory or other specialized units), as reported in state licensing data.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Yes/No from payment or funding tags indicating low-income accessibility options in state disclosures—not a determination of personal eligibility.
Whether the community is disclosed as co-located or on the same campus as a nursing home in state records.
NewBridge on the Charles
IL
AL
CCRC
MC
Dedham
87
Facility 87
MA AVG 91
Rank #43 / 92
Yes36
8
Facility 8
MA AVG 57
Rank #232 / 238
1 Bed / 2 Bed
17
Facility 17
MA AVG 22
Rank #45 / 67
NoNo
D‘Youville Life and Wellness Community
IL
AL
HOS
MC
NH
SNF
Lowell (Pawtucketville)
208
Facility 208
MA AVG 91
Rank #4 / 92
Yes-
19
Facility 19
MA AVG 57
Rank #208 / 238
Private Rooms-No-
Atria Fairhaven
IL
AL
MC
RC
Fairhaven (North Fairhaven)
60
Facility 60
MA AVG 91
Rank #71 / 92
Yes10
16
Facility 16
MA AVG 57
Rank #214 / 238
Studio / Suite / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
22
Facility 22
MA AVG 22
Rank #37 / 67
NoNo
Forestdale Park Senior Living
IL
AL
MC
RC
Malden (Maplewood)
77
Facility 77
MA AVG 91
Rank #52 / 92
Yes18
37
Facility 37
MA AVG 57
Rank #162 / 238
Studio / 1 Bed
8
Facility 8
MA AVG 22
Rank #63 / 67
NoNo
Carriage House at Lee’s Farm
IL
AL
MC
Wayland (Wayland Center Historic District)
62
Facility 62
MA AVG 91
Rank #70 / 92
Yes29
34
Facility 34
MA AVG 57
Rank #166 / 238
Traditional (33), Special Care (29)
12
Facility 12
MA AVG 22
Rank #49 / 67
NoNo
Brightview Canton
IL
AL
MC
Canton (Ponkapoag)
65
Facility 65
MA AVG 91
Rank #68 / 92
Yes25
22
Facility 22
MA AVG 57
Rank #196 / 238
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
10
Facility 10
MA AVG 22
Rank #58 / 67
NoNo
Brightview North Andover
IL
AL
MC
North Andover
76
Facility 76
MA AVG 91
Rank #53 / 92
Yes27
4
Facility 4
MA AVG 57
Rank #236 / 238
1 Bed / 2 Bed
13
Facility 13
MA AVG 22
Rank #47 / 67
NoNo
Giving Tree Senior Living
IL
AL
MC
Dracut
160
Facility 160
MA AVG 91
Rank #7 / 92
Yes52
20
Facility 20
MA AVG 57
Rank #205 / 238
Studio / 1 Bed
6
Facility 6
MA AVG 22
Rank #66 / 67
NoNo
Cabot Park Village
IL
Newtonville
-Yes-
71
Facility 71
MA AVG 57
Rank #105 / 238
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 22
Rank #13 / 67
No-
Thirwood Place
IL
AL
South Yarmouth
69
Facility 69
MA AVG 91
Rank #64 / 92
Yes-
12
Facility 12
MA AVG 57
Rank #219 / 238
1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 22
Rank #13 / 67
NoNo

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each independent living community is ranked against every other MA independent living community we track that reports that metric, not just the 239 on this page. See how we rank facilities

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Overview of Laurelwood at the Pinehills

Spend your best years at Laurelwood at the Pinehills, an outstanding community in Plymouth, MA, offering independent living. The community features beautifully furnished and cozy studio to two-bedroom floor plans, ensuring residents are comfortable and safe. Here, residents can maintain their independence without hassles, as chores and maintenance are taken care of.

A jam-packed calendar of enriching activities and fun programs is conducted, encouraging residents to live actively and maintain social connections. Three delicious and well-balanced meals are also served to satisfy residents’ dietary needs and preferences. With top-tier amenities and exceptional services, residents are guaranteed to thrive in retirement.

Contact Laurelwood at The Pinehills

Overview of D‘youville Life and Wellness Community

D’Youville Life and Wellness Community proudly approaches nursing care as a person-centered service. It provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere for its residents to maintain comfort in a homey setting. With an emphasis on independent living, memory care, and long-term and short-term care, the home offers an environment where residents continuously grow as individuals in a nurturing environment that maximizes everyone’s quality of life.

D’Youville Place specializes in surgical recovery, skilled nursing, and therapeutic rehabilitation. Other community features include housekeeping, transportation, social events, recreational activities, and specialized programs.

Contact D‘Youville Life and Wellness Community

Overview of NewBridge on the Charles

Experience premier accommodations at a luxurious retirement community just a few minutes away from Harvard. NewBridge is committed to creating a lifestyle that suits each individual’s needs. Offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care support, the resort-style retirement home strives to ensure that its residents enjoy the lifestyle they deserve.

As a proud member of the Hebrew Senior Living Community, NewBridge on the Charles has designed every corner of the campus to meet the needs of its residents. Seniors will experience exclusive amenities and services, such as specialized medical support, individualized memory care activities, calendar-filled programs; exclusive Noshi Deli dining, The Shapiro Community Center, and programs through its affiliation with Harvard medical school.

Contact NewBridge on the Charles

Overview of Forestdale Park Senior Living

Situated in the vibrant community of Maiden, MA, the Forestdale Park Senior Living is an esteemed community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. A wide array of spacious and cozy accommodations including studio, private studio, one-bedroom, and companion suites are available for its residents. Having a highly equipped and compassionate team, residents can receive the utmost care and support they need. In terms of memory care, those with cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are given therapeutic programming and other specialized programs.

Experience its top-notch amenities and services including delightful and healthy meals, a culinary club, trivia hour, art appreciation activities, and many more. Meet new friends and create meaningful memories within its beautifully created shared spaces. At Forestdale Park Senior Living, seniors can enjoy a classic retirement.

Contact Forestdale Park Senior Living

Overview of Carriage House at Lee’s Farm

Discover an exceptional lifestyle experience at Carriage House at Lee’s Farm, a blissful senior living community in Middlesex County, Tewksbury, MA, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Residents are welcomed into thoughtfully designed accommodations, ranging from spacious studios to cozy companion suites. The community empowers residents to live an independent lifestyle with the support of convenient services, such as weekly housekeeping, laundry services, and transportation around the town.

Designed to offer a safe and fulfilling environment where residents flourish in all aspects of wellbeing, the community conducts a wide variety of social activities, holistic programs and excursions. Residents and their families find comfort in knowing that a team of dedicated caregivers are always available to help their loved ones look and feel their best. Here, residents enjoy delicious, homemade dining and a maintenance-free lifestyle that empowers them to live life to the fullest.

Contact Carriage House at Lee’s Farm

Overview of Atria Fairhaven

Experience comfort and security like no other in the extraordinary senior living community of Atria Fairhaven at Alden Road, Fairhaven, MA. Offering a spectrum of living options including assisted living, independent living, and memory care, the community provides high-quality care and assistance 24/7. With warm and meticulously-designed floor plans including studio deluxe, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, together with memory care neighborhood’s studio and shared suite, residents enjoy a bright and friendly environment.

Atria Fairhaven focuses on the uniqueness and freedom of seniors, providing them with care and assistance that perfectly matches their unique needs. Moreover, the community offers an Engage Life program and a Life Guidance program to ensure that residents live a fulfilled life with joy and inspiration. Catering to the seniors’ dietary needs and preferences, the community offers various meal options including vegetarian options alongside three chef-prepared meals every day. The community provides wonderful amenities including a library, a fitness center, a salon, an on-site physician, a game room, an outdoor grill, a courtyard, a peaceful sunlit patio, and walking paths for the seniors’ enjoyment and wellness.

Contact Atria Fairhaven

Overview of Brightview Canton

Have a magnificent retirement with Brightview Canton, located in the vibrant community of Canton, MA, offering a comprehensive range of services including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and enhanced care. The community features resort-style amenities and dining, ensuring an active and luxurious lifestyle. As an award-winning community, ranking 1st in FORTUNE Magazine for four consecutive years already, residents can receive the top-notch customized care and support they deserve.

Experience its above-and-beyond amenities and services including gourmet dining prepared by a talented culinary team, a full-service salon, and on-site physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Engage in a diverse set of life enrichment programs focusing on engagement, recreation, and wellness. With Brightview Canton, seniors are assured of enjoyable, fulfilling, and worry-free senior living.

Contact Brightview Canton

Overview of Brightview North Andover

Based in the vibrant community of North Andover, MA, the Brightview North Andover is a trusted senior living community offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. Here, residents can select from a wide array of spacious and well-appointed accommodations including deluxe, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom. With a highly equipped and dedicated team, residents can receive premium care services and emergency assistance to ensure comfort and security within the community.

Offering top-tier amenities and services, residents can enjoy delightful and healthy meals prepared by a talented culinary team, a large outdoor deck with beautiful views, free designated parking, a beautiful sunroom, etc. Participate in a full-packed calendar of social activities and community events. Meet new friends and create meaningful memories within the beautifully created shared spaces of this community. With Brightview North Andover, seniors can truly live a wonderful retirement.

Contact Brightview North Andover

Cabot Park Village

280 Newtonville Avenue, Newtonville, MA 02460
Overview of Cabot Park Village

Led by chairperson and CEO Tom Grape, Cabot Park Village is an independent living community that Benchmark Senior Living operates in Newtonville, Massachusetts. Situated on Newtonville Avenue just 0.6 miles from the city center, the mid-rise community has been operating for 29 years. It offers occupants a choice of floor plans: studios, one-, and two-bedroom apartments that give individuals flexibility in choosing the space that fits their needs and lifestyle.

The highly walkable neighborhood scores 71 on the Walk Score scale, meaning most daily errands and essentials are reachable on foot. Hospitals, drug stores, restaurants, shopping, markets, banks, golf courses, and parks are all conveniently located nearby. It’s then easy for residents and visiting families to access local services and amenities without a long commute. Cabot Park Village spotlights services for the needs of independent-living residents. Transportation services help with getting around. To bolster an active lifestyle, the home offers fitness and recreation facilities. Occupants can access a set of activities and social and educational programs tailored to foster engagement and connection. The community accepts pets, which can be a vital factor for residents wanting to bring a companion with them.

Operating for nearly three decades in senior housing, Cabot Park Village has developed systems to handle daily operations and respond to resident needs. The walkable Newtonville location puts residents near a full range of services, dining, and recreational opportunities in the surrounding community.

Contact Cabot Park Village

Overview of The Residence at Natick South

Live your golden years away from stress and worries in The Residence at Natick South, an excellent community in Natick, MA that provides various levels of care. The community ensures residents have everything they need to live comfortably by offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care on one campus. Residents here are provided with compassionate care and assistance with their daily living activities, personal care, and medication management for a comfortable and convenient living experience.

Those living with the challenges of memory loss are guaranteed to receive top-notch care from the community’s National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE) certified caregivers. An enriching array of activities is also offered to give residents the opportunities they need to maintain their mental and physical well-being. Residents also enjoy the convenience of having chef-prepared meals, housekeeping, and laundry services for a maintenance-free lifestyle. Whether you’re seeking comfort or enriching experiences, you’ll find everything you need in The Residence at Natick South.

Contact The Residence at Natick South

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 239 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.

Independent Living in Massachusetts at a glance

Avg Walk Score: 57/ 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: 91The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Massachusetts. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90