There is mounting evidence that our species dominant mode of (cultural) niche construction is contributing to substantial ecological and social degradation. The search for more sustainable modes of existence entails systematic and coordinated study of cultural alternatives, and this presents opportunities for the emerging field of cultural evolutionary science to simultaneously engage in basic and applied research. The purpose of this dissertation is to outline one such opportunity, both conceptually and empirically. In Chapter 1, the conceptual case is made that by adopting the Intentional Community movement as a model system for cultural evolutionary science, progress on multiple fronts can be made, both inside and outside academia. The Intentional Community movement consists of numerous and diverse communities of individuals living together based on shared values centered on cooperation and peaceful co-existence. Many view themselves as pioneers of sustainability and peaceful social evolution. In short, these communities are engaged in value-guided cultural niche construction and constitute a pool of cultural variation that can be mined for alternative ways to relate to each other and the wider world. To further understand the motivations for joining and the dynamics of community life, a survey of intentional communities members was conducted in collaboration with the Fellowship for Intentional Community. In Chapter 2, a series of structural topic models fitted to open-ended responses hint at a cultural mismatch between how life is currently configured in Western societies and our evolved dispositions for social life. In Chapter 3, several quantitative analyses showcase how salient theories from cultural evolutionary science are associated with efficacious communities and a satisfying community experience for members. Subsequent analyses in Chapter 4 suggest intentional communities provide high-quality lives for members and that, in general, life satisfaction is elevated across the movement. Combined, these results support the idea that systematic study of the Intentional Community movement may advance our understanding of cultural evolutionary dynamics and identify better practices for wider adoption as our species transitions to more sustainable modes of living, and that this transition doesn't necessarily mean a lower-quality life for those involved.