This paper first sets out the dominant thesis about how the changes that have occurred in family life may be linked to the quality of community life. This thesis, which the authors call the 'family decline thesis', suggests that the changes that have occurred in family life have led to the breakdown of community life, including levels of group membership, and trust and reciprocity in communities. The paper then describes findings from analyses of survey data which examined how levels of community group membership, trust and reciprocity relate to some of the key family characteristics associated with family change - including family type, marital status, household employment, and attitudes about relationships and gender roles. Overall, the authors found support for some aspects of the decline thesis, but also several important variations and qualifications to the thesis that are highlighted.