Basics · 3 min read
Community models explained
Kibbutz, cohousing, ecovillage, co-op, commune — what each one shares, what stays private, and who each one suits.
Labels are a starting point, not an answer. Two communities with the same label can work very differently, and two with different labels can feel almost the same. Use the models below to learn the vocabulary, then ask every community how it actually works.
The main models
Kibbutz
Collective communities that began in the early 20th century, historically built on shared ownership, shared income and collective work. Many kibbutzim have since changed: in a renewed kibbutz, members earn their own salaries and often own their homes, while the community keeps shared services and a safety net. Traditional (shitufi) kibbutzim still share income. Urban kibbutzim are smaller groups living together in cities, often around education or social work.
Suits people who want deep mutual responsibility and are comfortable with the group having a real say in economic life.
Cohousing
Private homes — each with its own kitchen — clustered around shared spaces: a common house, dining room, laundry, gardens and guest rooms. Residents design and manage the community together, and usually share some meals each week.
Suits people who want everyday neighbourliness with a full private home.
Ecovillage
A community — rural, urban or traditional — that consciously works on ecological, social, cultural and economic sustainability together. Many grow food, build with natural materials, and run courses for visitors.
Suits people who want their daily life to be part of an ecological project.
Housing cooperative
Residents collectively own or manage their buildings through a co-op, and usually pay a monthly charge instead of owning a flat outright. Decisions are made democratically by members.
Suits people who want affordability and a say over their housing, without necessarily sharing much daily life.
Commune / income-sharing community
Members pool income and resources, and the community covers members’ needs. Work is often organised through a labour-hour system.
Suits people who want maximum sharing and are ready to give up most financial independence.
Spiritual or values-based community
Organised around a shared practice, faith or philosophy. Daily rhythms, decisions and membership are shaped by that shared core.
Moshav / village cooperative
Private households and farms, with cooperative purchasing, marketing or services.
Co-living / shared house
Several adults sharing a large home or building, often with shared meals and chores. Usually rented, flexible, and easier to join or leave.
Senior and intergenerational cohousing
Communities designed for older people, or deliberately mixing ages so that support flows in every direction.
Six questions that describe any community
| Question | Range of answers |
|---|---|
| Home | Private house → private room → shared household |
| Ownership | Individual → mixed → fully collective |
| Money | Separate incomes → shared costs → full income sharing |
| Work | Optional → set hours per month → all work is collective |
| Decisions | Majority voting → consent → consensus |
| Purpose | Practical neighbourliness → ecology → spiritual or political mission |
Place yourself on each line before you look at labels. The Community compass does this in about three minutes.
A note on the word “kibbutz”
Kibutz takes its name from the kibbutz tradition — people choosing to build a shared life on purpose — but the site welcomes every model. Kibbutz, cohousing and ecovillage are not interchangeable, and it’s worth being precise when you talk to a community about what you’re looking for.