I found this for Massachusetts. Going to take out of the listing about not suitable for children due to safety. URGH.
In some circumstances, however, the law does allow Massachusetts landlords to exclude families with children. In general, there are two types of housing where this may be allowed:
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Two-family homes where the owners are occupants; and (This probably applies to me)
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Certain buildings intended for and occupied by people over 55 years old.
Yet, even where an owner-occupant can legally refuse to rent to children, a landlord is not protected by state or federal law if she publishes, advertises, or makes any written or verbal statements that she will not rent to children. Most landlords do not put ads in the paper that say “no children, please” because they know that would be illegal. But, some landlords do instruct real estate brokers and managers not to rent to families with kids or to reject them on some made-up grounds. A broker violates the law if she carries out the instructions of an owner-occupant of a two-family building and refuses to show or rent a property to families with children.