The First 55+ Cohousing Community in New England
About Us
We are a group of seniors, mainly from the Greater Boston metro area, along with a few outlanders.
We’re in our 50s to early 80s, with most of us in our 60s. Many pathways have brought us here, and we welcome new stories to the saga. We are single, divorced, widowed, and married. Some of us have adult children and some have grandchildren.
About half of us are working full- or part-time. We’ve held a wide variety of jobs. Be sure to check out our Member Profiles to discover more about us.
We’re a busy bunch with interests that include hiking, rowing, biking, swimming, kayaking, flower and vegetable gardening, quilting, knitting, rug hooking, playing classical music (flute, harp, piano), choral singing, contradancing, crafts, cooking, pottery making, yoga, meditation, and restoring vintage cars, scooters, and motorcycles. We definitely know how to have fun!
What matters most to me about living in Hager Homestead?
"Not being isolated, knowing people, and having a way to run our community that works"
"I've been here a year now and would never go back to living any other way. I love it."
"Belonging; personal growth; meaningful work; friends; the expansiveness of forgiving and being forgiven for our imperfections and missteps; improvement of health; fun!"
"That the members remember that the community will need to come first in many decisions. Living in community is similar to a marriage, while the individual has independence, they are committed to making the joint project work for everyone."
"Having like-minded friends and helpmates just around the corner"
"I like having people I know living nearby. Some favorite times: get-togethers like movies and group walks. Looking forward to the Common House, a comfortable space to gather in."
"What matters most to me is being able to live in a beautiful and healthy environment that I can share with others who I care about and who also care for me."
"Knowing and trusting my neighbors, knowing they want me to have a good life."
"The daily-ness of interactions. The small (and large) ways we help each other. The ways we care for each other is so heartening. And the way we can build a community that lightens the burdens of all individuals, so we each contribute what we are most skilled at, and accept help where we most need it."
"Being part of a community. Even when we disagree, it's better than being alone."
"Having a happy existence. Enabling all of us to live productive lives, and help each other. Enjoyment of day to day living."
"I actually have neighbors that I speak to more than once a month, that I laugh and chat with, listen and complain to, help and be helped by, cook for, nad just be with. I am interconnected - moreso than I ever have been in my life"
"The People. Each person is vital to the community."
This is us, March 2025, post move-in...
(from 1 year ago to 2 weeks before)
Our Values
We are a community of active older adults committed to living sustainably on the earth, creating a beautiful place to live, and nourishing the body and soul.
We embrace diversity as vital to a flourishing community.
We value lifelong learning and personal growth.
We care about and support one another, balancing independence and mutual concern.
We strive to be compassionate and respectful in our relationships.
We look for opportunities to celebrate, engage with the world, and have fun!
And another value, our nondiscrimination statement:
Hager Homestead as a cohousing community, with Middlesex Senior Cohousing as the development entity, are committed to following the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex or gender, handicap, familial status, national origin or other protected status.
