Background Few empirical studies have compared quality and outcomes for residents with intellectual disability across intentional communities such as those organised by the Camphill communities in Ireland.

Method Using a multi-element research protocol developed for an earlier large study, data were gathered about the characteristics of N = 29 participants living in life-sharing residences organised by Camphill, management procedures, and outcomes for residents. Comparable data were available for N = 125 adults in group homes or campus residences.

Results Camphill residents reported a smaller size of household, higher staffing ratios, homely living areas, low levels of institutionalised practices such as social distance, reciprocal relationships with houseparents, and well-developed management procedures, as well as less choice, but were not found to be better on a range of other objective measures.

Conclusion Although modest in scale, present findings suggest that the value of applying distinctive benefits of life-sharing communities in more typical residential settings for people with intellectual disability should be investigated further to inform current policy debates.