Other senior care options in Massachusetts:

Best Independent Living in Massachusetts

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 228 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
Jun 2026
We analyzed
228 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 Residence at Orchard Grove
IL
AL
MC
Shrewsbury
80
Facility 80
MA AVG 94
Rank #157 / 280
Yes20
24
Facility 24
MA AVG 53
Rank #386 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
27
Facility 27
MA AVG 24
Rank #82 / 180
-NoNo
Autumn Glen at Dartmouth
IL
AL
MC
Dartmouth (Smith Mills)
85
Facility 85
MA AVG 94
Rank #146 / 280
No37
21
Facility 21
MA AVG 53
Rank #412 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
-NoNo
Brightview Danvers
IL
AL
MC
Danvers (Danversport)
79
Facility 79
MA AVG 94
Rank #167 / 280
Yes24
48
Facility 48
MA AVG 53
Rank #269 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
18
Facility 18
MA AVG 24
Rank #130 / 180
ANoNo
The Residence at Melrose Station
IL
AL
MC
RC
Melrose (Essex Street)
90
Facility 90
MA AVG 94
Rank #126 / 280
Yes25
93
Facility 93
MA AVG 53
Rank #24 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
27
Facility 27
MA AVG 24
Rank #82 / 180
-NoNo
Brightview North Andover
IL
AL
MC
North Andover (Turnpike Street)
76
Facility 76
MA AVG 94
Rank #173 / 280
No27
4
Facility 4
MA AVG 53
Rank #489 / 499
1 Bed / 2 Bed
13
Facility 13
MA AVG 24
Rank #140 / 180
-NoNo
Keystone Place at Buzzards Bay
IL
AL
MC
Buzzards Bay
75
Facility 75
MA AVG 94
Rank #174 / 280
Yes20
60
Facility 60
MA AVG 53
Rank #215 / 499
1 Bed / 2 Bed
11
Facility 11
MA AVG 24
Rank #153 / 180
-NoNo
Stone Hill at Andover
IL
AL
MC
Andover
96
Facility 96
MA AVG 94
Rank #109 / 280
Yes24
69
Facility 69
MA AVG 53
Rank #177 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
7
Facility 7
MA AVG 24
Rank #175 / 180
-NoNo
Atria Woodbriar Park
IL
AL
MC
RC
Falmouth (Teaticket)
95
Facility 95
MA AVG 94
Rank #111 / 280
Yes50
55
Facility 55
MA AVG 53
Rank #233 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
30
Facility 30
MA AVG 24
Rank #27 / 180
-NoNo
Maplewood at Weston
IL
AL
MC
Weston
93
Facility 93
MA AVG 94
Rank #118 / 280
Yes13
17
Facility 17
MA AVG 53
Rank #435 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
12
Facility 12
MA AVG 24
Rank #143 / 180
A+NoNo
The Residence at Boylston Place
IL
AL
MC
RC
Chestnut Hill
99
Facility 99
MA AVG 94
Rank #101 / 280
No18
78
Facility 78
MA AVG 53
Rank #133 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
26
Facility 26
MA AVG 24
Rank #93 / 180
-NoYes
NewBridge on the Charles
IL
NH
AL
MC
Dedham (Hebrew Rehabilitation Center At Newbridge)
87
Facility 87
MA AVG 94
Rank #139 / 280
No36
8
Facility 8
MA AVG 53
Rank #481 / 499
1 Bed / 2 Bed
17
Facility 17
MA AVG 24
Rank #132 / 180
-NoNo
Thirwood Place
IL
AL
South Yarmouth
69
Facility 69
MA AVG 94
Rank #191 / 280
Yes-
12
Facility 12
MA AVG 53
Rank #456 / 499
1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
-NoNo
Grove Manor Estates
IL
AL
MC
Braintree (Grove Street)
70
Facility 70
MA AVG 94
Rank #185 / 280
No15
54
Facility 54
MA AVG 53
Rank #238 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #37 / 180
-NoNo
The Village at Willow Crossings
IL
AL
MC
RC
Mansfield (Mansfield Center)
104
Facility 104
MA AVG 94
Rank #89 / 280
Yes18
21
Facility 21
MA AVG 53
Rank #412 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
29
Facility 29
MA AVG 24
Rank #56 / 180
CNoNo
Brookdale Cushing Park
IL
AL
MC
Framingham (Emeritus At Farm Pond)
100
Facility 100
MA AVG 94
Rank #94 / 280
Yes22
23
Facility 23
MA AVG 53
Rank #395 / 499
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
48
Facility 48
MA AVG 24
Rank #1 / 180
A+NoNo
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Overview of Brookdale Quincy Bay

With scenic views of Quincy Bay and the Boston skyline, Brookdale Quincy Bay offers independent and assisted living residents city conveniences and quality care in a comfortable, elegant setting. The community provides spacious accommodations, fun-filled events and programs, and restaurant-style dining, all without ever leaving home. Staff remain available 24/7 for emergencies and handle household chores like housekeeping and transportation. Residents can enjoy on-campus amenities like a beauty salon, billiards room, and yoga classes, as well as resident socials.

Independent living is ideal for seniors who want to trade homeownership worries for the comforts of home, with apartment options to suit individual styles and plenty of opportunities to socialize. Assisted living residents receive customized care tailored to their specific needs, with help for daily tasks like personal grooming and medication management. The community calendar is filled with activities for all interests, from tai chi and Zumba to movie matinees and casino trips, designed with resident input. Delicious, restaurant-style meals featuring seasonal options and resident-requested recipes are served in the elegant dining room.

Contact Brookdale Quincy Bay

Overview of Waterstone at the Circle

At 385 Chestnut Hill Ave in Boston’s Brighton neighborhood, Waterstone at the Circle occupies one of the more genuinely walkable addresses in the Boston senior living market. A Walk Score of 87 means residents can handle most daily errands on foot, which in a city like Boston carries real weight for people who want to stay connected to an urban environment without relying on transportation logistics.

The building is a mid-rise, nine years into operation, with one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. The amenity list reads like someone actually thought about how people spend their time: an indoor heated pool, fitness center, library, card room, and movie theater are all on-site. Dining uses an anytime model built around locally sourced ingredients and seasonal offerings, which is a meaningfully different structure than set-schedule communal dining. Programming is run by a life enrichment team, and the community offers two named specific programs, Financial Resources and the EPOCH Exchange.

The facility carries an independent living designation, and the full profile coheres around that: no staffing hours, no clinical services listed, just a well-appointed building in a walkable Boston neighborhood designed for people who are managing their own lives and want a good physical environment to do it in. For that population in this market, the combination of location, amenities, and flexible dining is a substantive offer.

Contact Waterstone at the Circle

Overview of Village at Brookline

Conveniently located near Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Brookline, MA, Village at Brookline is a blissful haven that offers independent living. Featuring sophisticated and thoughtfully furnished one- to three-bedroom floor plans, the community ensures residents are comfortable and safe. Round-the-clock emergency maintenance and plenty of convenient apartment features are also provided, so residents can keep their peace of mind during their stay.

A carefully planned slate of fun activities and enriching programs is conducted, encouraging residents to live actively and make new friends. With multiple dining venues, residents enjoy a variety of delightful dining options that cater to their dietary needs and preferences. The community’s warm and inviting environment creates the ideal setting for residents to flourish and make every moment of their golden years count.

Contact Village At Brookline

Overview of Metro Marina Bay

Beautifully situated in the serene neighborhood of Quincy, MA, Metro Marina Bay is an idyllic retreat that offers independent living. The community has thoughtfully furnished and cozy one- and two-bedroom floor plans, dedicated to residents’ comfort and convenience. With a friendly management team and plenty of apartment features, residents have a hassle-free living.

A thoughtfully curated calendar of engaging activities and enriching programs is conducted to keep residents active and socially connected. Residents can also prepare meals that best suit their tastes and nutritional needs, with a fully equipped kitchen in each unit and an outdoor kitchen for gatherings. This pet-friendly community boasts extensive amenities, including a clubhouse, a fitness center, a dog park, outdoor parking, an indoor garage, business centers, and vast outdoor spaces, creating the ideal setting for residents to flourish in retirement.

Contact Metro Marina Bay

Overview of Curtain Lofts

Peacefully nestled near serene parks in Fall River, MA, Curtain Lofts is a blissful retreat that offers independent living. Committed to enhancing the living experiences of those 55+, the community features purposefully designed and spacious one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Here, residents have a maintenance-free living with convenient apartment features.

Unique local shops and recreational spaces are easily accessible, providing unending leisure and wellness opportunities. Residents enjoy mealtimes on their terms, with a fully equipped kitchen provided in each unit. The community’s office is open from Monday to Friday, from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., welcoming older adults and guests in its vibrant and inviting environment.

Contact Curtain Lofts

Anne M. Lynch

20 Rev. Burke St, South Boston, MA 02127
Overview of Anne M. Lynch

Beautifully set near Moakley Park in South Boston, MA, Anne M. Lynch is an idyllic retreat that offers independent living. The community features plenty of specially designed accommodations that range from one- to five-bedroom floor plans, ensuring comfort and safety. 24-hour emergency maintenance, laundry suites, and management are also provided, so residents have a hassle-free living.

With plenty of unique shops and recreation sites nearby, residents will not run out of things to do for leisure and wellness. Restaurants in the area also provide residents with delightful dining options that cater to their dietary needs and preferences. Here, residents are guaranteed the finest retirement experience, accompanied by the community’s vibrant and welcoming environment.

Contact Anne M. Lynch

Overview of Armbrook Village

Boasting over 30 years of experience in serving the older population, Armbrook Village is a well-established senior living community in Westfield, MA. The community allows its residents to comfortably age in place with various levels of care, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care options. Residents are provided the peace of mind and comfort of having an excellent team of care experts ready to attend to their needs and comfortable accommodations that offer them a serene space for relaxation.

Dedicated to creating a vibrant community, Armbrook Village offers its residents a full range of fun and exciting activities, including fitness classes, live musical events, and art sessions. Residents also enjoy an unparalleled dining experience with a great selection of meals served in an elegant dining room that fosters socialization and friendship-building. At Armbrook Village, residents have all the support and tools they need to live a meaningful retirement life.

Contact Armbrook Village

Overview of Highland Glen Apartments

Nestled in the heart of Westwood, Massachusetts, Highland Glen Apartments stands as a haven of comfort and convenience for seniors seeking an enriching living experience. This vibrant senior living community offers spacious and well-appointed one- and two-bedroom apartments thoughtfully designed to provide modern amenities and features that cater to residents’ needs. More than just a place to live, Highland Glen Apartments is a vibrant and welcoming community where seniors can thrive and savor the joys of life. Discover the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and community at Highland Glen Apartments—a place where every day is an opportunity to enjoy the richness of senior living.

At Highland Glen Apartments, residents are welcomed into a community where every detail is crafted to enhance their well-being. From housekeeping and laundry services to convenient transportation options, this community ensures a worry-free lifestyle, allowing residents to focus on what matters most—enjoying life. Conveniently located near shopping, dining, entertainment, and medical facilities, Highland Glen Apartments provides easy access to the essentials of daily life. Nature trails, parks, and golf courses in the vicinity offer residents the opportunity to connect with the outdoors and explore the beauty of the surrounding area. The amenities at Highland Glen Apartments extend beyond the comfortable living spaces.

Contact Highland Glen Apartments

Overview of The Village at Duxbury

Situated on a picturesque 38-acre campus in Duxbury, Massachusetts, The Village at Duxbury stands as a vibrant 62+ cooperative community, offering seniors a distinctive blend of independence, luxury, and community living. This unique community provides various housing options and amenities designed for those who value an active lifestyle, ensuring residents have convenient access to healthcare services. Moreover, The Village at Duxbury provides a continuum of care, including assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care services if ever needed.

At The Village at Duxbury, residents have the opportunity to own their homes, experiencing the advantages of equity appreciation, tax deductions, and thoughtful estate planning. With 144 apartment-style and 30 garden homes, each featuring spacious floor plans, modern appliances, and elegant finishes, residents enjoy a comfortable and stylish living environment. Residents of The Village at Duxbury can enjoy many amenities and foster a sense of connection through various activities, clubs, and events, allowing residents to engage in a vibrant social life.

Contact The Village at Duxbury

Overview of Epoch Senior Living – Waltham

EPOCH Senior Living in Waltham offers an excellent service for personalized assisted living and memory care for its residents. They boast a fantastic team of well-trained professionals who deliver lovely senior care. The premier choice in Waltham promotes an elevated and vibrant social life where they encourage seniors to connect with others and build meaningful relationships with one another.

As a renowned community member, residential living is focused on energizing, enriching, engaging, and elevating their lifestyles. Its remarkable accommodations are focused on maintaining an active assisted living lifestyle and immersing in stimulating memory care activities in a home-like setting. Other amenities include a family-gathering room, multiple recreational rooms, a dining room, and a fitness center.

Contact EPOCH Senior Living – Waltham

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
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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 228 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.