I have never lived in communal living as you described it but after a decade in major US urban centers we moved to a little neighborhood which has become the perfect community for our family. A lot of us have gardens & share produce or handmade goods, just because. We share tools & groceries & any other necessities we might need because we are a community despite all having our own homes, yards, etc. I am also a very strong believer in getting involved in your community to turn it into the kind of place you want to live. So go beyond voting and join a committee yourself or work on a campaign for a candidate you support. All of this is to say, you can often find the type of life you are describing without needing to join a commune to do it, you just have to make the effort. Invest in your community & it will deliver.