No real benefits, unless you count living in a particular place where there aren’t really other options as a benefit. We moved to one because it seemed low key and we wanted to live in the country. The only other options were $$$$$$ on large acreages.

It didn’t stay low key, and I had to become president to stop the busybodies - I’d push to get rid of the HOA entirely if it were possible, but we own shared infrastructure and have to manage it (roads, water, sewer).

Should our neighborhood have been allowed to develop in that way? Probably not, but we’re stuck with it.