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Head Start and Early Head Start in Massachusetts

133 centers in 81 cities and towns, run by 31 programs. 78 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 117offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. It's free if you qualify.

Source: Office of Head Start service locations, as of October 2026. Each program reports its own sites, so call before you visit. Closed sites are left out.

Who qualifies in Massachusetts

$27,320a year or less for a family of three, or $33,000 for four. That's the 2026 federal poverty line, Head Start's income limit.

You also qualify at any income if you get TANF or SSI, your child is in foster care, or your family is homeless.

Sources: 45 CFR 1302.12; HHS poverty guidelines

Poverty guidelines for every family size

Head Start by city in Massachusetts

12 cities have 3 or more centers and a page of their own, most centers first.

Where to apply in Massachusetts

You apply to a program, not to one center. Each number here is the program's enrollment line: staff can tell you which of its centers have room and add you to a waiting list.

  • Action for Boston Community Development

    24 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (617) 348-6388

  • Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start, Inc.

    10 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (413) 788-6522

  • Community Action Pioneer Valley, Inc.

    9 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (413) 387-1250

  • Citizens For Citizens, Inc.

    8 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (508) 675-2151 ext. 205

  • Associates for Human Services, Inc.

    7 centers · Early Head Start

    (508) 880-0202 ext. 355

  • Cape Cod YMCA

    6 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    No line reported

  • Community Teamwork, Inc.

    6 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (978) 654-7130

  • South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc.

    6 centers · Head Start

    (508) 820-8380

  • Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc.

    5 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (978) 681-4920

  • Making Opportunity Count, Inc.

    5 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (978) 785-5431

  • Berkshire County Head Start Child Development Program, Inc.

    4 centers · Head Start

    (413) 499-0137

  • Community Action Agency of Somerville

    4 centers · Head Start

    (617) 623-7370 ext. 111

  • Self-Help Incorporated Head Start

    4 centers · Head Start

    (508) 587-1716

  • Communities United, Inc

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (617) 744-6076 ext. 231

  • Community Action, Inc.

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (978) 372-5052 ext. 293

  • Pathways for Children, Inc.

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (978) 281-2400 ext. 5454

  • South Shore Community Action Council, Inc.

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (508) 746-0333 ext. 6331

  • Triumph, Inc.

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (508) 822-5388

  • Worcester Community Action Council, Inc.

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (508) 765-4738 ext. 5309

  • Worcester Public Schools - Child Development Head Start

    3 centers · Head Start

    (508) 799-3237

  • Community Action Program's Inter-City, Inc.

    2 centers · Head Start

    (617) 889-5690

  • Community Day Care Center of Lawrence, Inc.

    2 centers · Early Head Start

    (978) 651-9811

  • People Acting in Community Endeavors

    2 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (508) 999-1286 ext. 20

  • Dimock Early Head Start

    1 center · Early Head Start

    (617) 442-8800 ext. 2619

  • Dimock Head Start

    1 center · Head Start

    (617) 442-8800 ext. 2619

  • LEO Inc. Early Head Start

    1 center · Early Head Start

    (781) 309-5530

  • LEO Inc. Head Start

    1 center · Head Start

    (781) 309-5668

  • Martha's Vineyard Community Services

    1 center · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (508) 693-7900 ext. 280

  • Quincy Community Action Programs Inc.

    1 center · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (617) 249-2000

  • Riverside Community Care, Inc.

    1 center · Early Head Start

    (617) 629-6652

  • Self-Help Incorporated Early Head Start

    1 center · Early Head Start

    No line reported

Centers in smaller towns in Massachusetts

81 centers in 69 towns with fewer than 3 centers each, A to Z.

Agawam · 1

Allston · 1

  • Allston Head Start & Children's Services

    Head Start · 41 Quint Ave

    (617) 783-5646

Amherst · 1

  • Amherst Community Child Care

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 61 Strong St

    (413) 548-1290

Attleboro · 1

  • Children's Express Child Care, Inc

    Early Head Start · 114 S Main St

    (508) 880-0202

Beverly · 1

  • Pathways for Children Cabot St. Center

    Head Start · 292 Cabot St

    (978) 236-4101

Brighton · 1

  • Brighton Head Start & Children's Services

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 478 Western Ave

    (617) 783-5646

Cambridge · 2

Charlestown · 1

  • John F. Kennedy Family Service Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 23A Moulton St

    (617) 241-8866

Chelsea · 1

Chicopee · 2

  • Lincoln Grove Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 216 Broadway St

    (413) 750-9190

  • Westover

    Head Start · 30 Griffith Rd

    (413) 315-8510

Clinton · 1

Cotuit · 1

  • YMCA Cape Cod Head Start & Early Head Start - Cotuit Early Education Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 4978 Falmouth Rd

    (508) 362-6500

Dracut · 1

East Boston · 2

  • East Boston Head Start & Children's Services - Condor Street

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 130 Condor St

    (617) 567-8855

  • East Boston Head Start & Children's Services - Lexington Street

    Head Start · 80 Lexington St

    (617) 567-8855

East Brookfield · 1

  • WCAC East Brookfield Head Start

    Head Start · 410 E Main St

    (774) 239-1170

East Wareham · 1

  • South Shore Early Education -Wareham

    Head Start · 2 Knowles Ave

    (508) 927-5772

Easthampton · 1

Everett · 1

  • Everett Head Start & Children?s Services

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 190 Nichols St

    (781) 397-8071

Falmouth · 1

  • YMCA Cape Cod Head Start & Early Head Start - Falmouth Hospital Campus

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 67 Ter Heun Dr, Unit B

Fitchburg · 1

Framingham · 1

  • SMOC Childcare and Head Start

    Head Start · 12 Roxanna St, 12 Roxanna Street

    (508) 620-2373

Gardner · 2

  • Mechanic Street

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 95 Mechanic St

    (978) 630-2290

  • Mount Wachusett Community College

    Head Start · 444 Green St

    (978) 630-9446

Gloucester · 1

  • Pathways for Children Head Start and Early Head Start at Emerson

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 29 Emerson Ave

    (978) 515-5454

Great Barrington · 1

  • Muddy Brook Elementary School Head Start

    Head Start · 318 Monument Valley Rd, Rm 111

    (413) 644-0005

Harwich · 1

  • YMCA Cape Cod Head Start - Harwich Elementary School

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 263 South St

    (508) 362-6500

Haverhill · 2

  • Fox Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 75 Elm St

    (978) 372-5052

  • International Child Care Center

    Early Head Start · 17 Cedar St

    (978) 372-1221

Holyoke · 1

  • Churchill

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 41 Commercial St

    (413) 534-0876

Hyannis · 1

  • YMCA Cape Cod Head Start & Early Head Start - Hyannis Village Marketplace

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 261 Stevens St, Ste E

    (508) 362-6500

Hyde Park · 1

  • Hyde Park Head Start & Children's Services

    Head Start · 695 Truman Hwy

    (617) 333-4957

Jamaica Plain · 2

  • Jamaica Plain Head Start & Children's Services

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 315 Centre St, Rear

    (617) 522-5533

  • Nurtury Learning Lab

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 33 Bickford St

    (617) 477-3115

Leominster · 1

  • Family Education Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 1000 Lancaster St

    (978) 534-7642

Lexington · 1

  • Lexington Creative Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 55 Coolidge Ave

    (781) 462-3054

Ludlow · 1

Lynn · 2

  • LEO Inc. Early Education Center

    Head Start · 156 Broad St

    (781) 581-7220

  • Stepping Stones Early Education Center

    Early Head Start · 35 Waitt Ave

    (781) 309-5530

Malden · 1

  • Malden Head Start & Children?s Services

    Head Start · 359 Commercial Street.

    (781) 397-8071

Marlborough · 2

Marshfield · 1

  • South Shore Early Education

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 832 Webster St

    (781) 837-6837

Mattapan · 1

  • Mattapan Head Start & Children's Services

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 535 River St

    (617) 298-1785

Medford · 1

  • Medford Head Start & Children's Services

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 75 Station Lndg

    (617) 348-6388

Medway · 1

Methuen · 1

  • Methuen Center @ Gill Avenue

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 24 Gill Ave, Head Start

    (978) 686-2208

Middleboro · 1

Milford · 1

Newburyport · 1

  • Seacoast Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 447 Merrimac St

    (978) 499-8357

North Adams · 2

North Falmouth · 1

  • YMCA Cape Cod Head Start & Early Head Start - North Falmouth Congregational Church

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 155 Old Main Rd

    (508) 362-6500

Northampton · 1

  • Vernon St.

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 56 Vernon St

    (413) 387-1240

Norton · 1

Norwood · 1

  • James Savage Educational Center

    Head Start · 275 Prospect St

    (781) 255-0413

Oak Bluffs · 1

  • Martha's Vineyard Community Services

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 111 Edgartown Rd

    (508) 693-7900

Orange · 1

Pittsfield · 1

Plymouth · 1

  • South Shore Early Education-Plymouth

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 196 S Meadow Rd

    (508) 746-0333

Quincy · 1

  • Head Start Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 22 Pray St

    (617) 249-2000

Revere · 1

Roslindale · 1

  • Roslindale Head Start & Children's Services

    Head Start · 19 Corinth St

    (617) 327-1152

Roxbury Crossing · 2

  • Nurtury Horadan Way

    Head Start · 38 Horadan Way

    (617) 445-1250

  • Parker Hill Head Start & Children's Services

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 716 Parker St

    (617) 427-0464

Salem · 1

  • Pathways for Children Head Start at Horace Mann

    Head Start · 79 Willson St

    (978) 515-5400

South Boston · 2

  • South Boston Head Start & Children's Services - Old Colony

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 125 Mercer St

    (617) 269-5160

  • South Boston Head Start & Children's Services - West Broadway

    Head Start · 424 W Broadway

    (617) 269-5160

Southbridge · 1

  • Southbridge Head Start/Early Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 25 Cole Ave

    (508) 765-4738

Swansea · 1

Turners Falls · 2

Waltham · 1

  • Waltham Creative Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 169 Elm St

    (781) 647-0542

Ware · 1

Webster · 1

West Barnstable · 1

  • YMCA Cape Cod Head Start & Early Head Start ? LPL

    Head Start · 2245 Iyannough Rd

Westfield · 1

  • Westfield Head Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 1120 Southampton Rd

    (413) 387-1250

Whitinsville · 1

Woburn · 1

  • Woburn Creative Start

    Early Head Start and Head Start · 470 Wildwood Ave, Ste 8

    (781) 932-9578

Head Start in nearby states

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Massachusetts

Having a baby in MassachusettsBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 205% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee Massachusetts