Settlements: love 'em or hate 'em, you probably feel compelled to obtain and deck out each and every one. Stumped on how many there are and if you've earned them all? Check out this full list, with instructions on how to get the ones you missed.
Abernathy Farm
This is one of the earliest settlements you get in the game, and you earn it by helping out the Abernathy family by retrieving a locket from a nearby satellite location. Visit the farm and speak to Blake Abernathy.
Boston Airport
This location is used in a Brotherhood of Steel mission and is obtained during the course of their questline. You cannot grow food at this settlement, making its growth extremely limited.
Bunker Hill
After the Battle of Bunker Hill, a showdown between the Institute and the Railroad with optional participation from the Brotherhood of Steel, you can talk to Kessler, a resident of the merchant hub, and she will allow you access to their Workshop station. This location is noteworthy for the number of small buildings and shacks it has, making it easy to set up shop with beds for extra settlers.
The Castle
This settlement is earned during the Minutemen questline, specifically the Taking Independence quest.
Coastal Cottage
When you visit this location, kill all the nearby Mirelurks and the settlement will be yours.
County Crossing
This settlement is obtained by clearing the enemies at the behest of Preston Garvey during the Minutemen missions.
Covenant
You can earn access to this settlement one of two ways. During the Human Error mission, you can either side with Jacob Orden and the town, or you can kill everyone in Covenant. If you decide to kill the residents, access the Workshop station afterwards to unlock the settlement. If you spare them, speak with Jacob Orden instead. Like The Castle, this location has many buildings already established, making it less expensive to for new settlers to move in.
Croup Manor
Kill all the Feral Ghouls in this location to unlock the settlement.
Egret Tours Marina
When you visit this location, you will find Phyllis Daily in one of the buildings. Due to a family tragedy, she believes she is a Synth and will engage you in a hostile confrontation. Either kill her, or draw her out in conversation with successful speech checks. Either will result in access to the Workshop bench and open the settlement for your use.
Finch Farm
During the Minutemen questline, Preston Garvey will ask you to rescue Jake Finch from Saugus Ironworks. Your reward is the allegiance of the settlement ot the Minutemen and access to their Workshop bench.
Graygarden
Many settlers and other NPCs will note that this location is ran "entirely" by robots. When you visit this area you will be asked to restore a water pump in a quest labeled Troubled Waters. Upon completion the settlement will be yours.
Greentop Nursery
This settlement is gained during the course of the Minutemen questline.
Hangman's Alley
Preston Garvey will ask you to clear this location of Raiders to establish the area as a settlement.
Home Plate
You can buy Home Plate from Gevena in the Mayor's Office in Diamond City for 2000 caps. Be aware that this location is very limited, and you will only be able to access furniture, decor, and power through the workshop. You cannot send settlers to or from this location.
Jamaica Plain
This settlement is obtained by clearing the enemies at the behest of Preston Garvey during the Minutemen missions.
Kingsport Lighthouse
Kill all Children of the Atom in the location to take over the settlement and unlock the Workshop.
Murkwater Construction Site
To open this camp for settlement, kill the Mirelurk Queen. Establish extra defense on rooftops to protect the camp for when the Mirelurk Queen spawns again.
Nordhagen Beach
This settlement, said to have been founded by a former Vault Tec employee, is obtained by clearing the enemies at the behest of Preston Garvey during the Minutemen missions.
Oberland Station
This settlement is obtained by clearing the enemies at the behest of Preston Garvey during the Minutemen missions.
Outpost Zimonja
Kill all the Raiders in this area to unlock the settlement for the Minutemen.
Red Rocket Truck Stop
This is one of the few settlements that does not have to be fought for or earned through quest completion. It is available at the beginning of the game.
Sanctuary Hills
Available from the start of the game, this area is your first settlement location.
The Slog
This settlement is obtained by clearing the enemies at the behest of Preston Garvey during the Minutemen missions.
Somerville Place
This settlement is obtained by clearing the enemies at the behest of Preston Garvey during the Minutemen missions.
Spectacle Island
At the southern portion of the island you will find a half sunken ship with power cords leading out. Follow them to a circuit breaker and flip the switch. Follow the cords to a small building where you will find a terminal and another circuit breaker. Switch that one as well. Defeat the Mirelurks that spring up and the entire island is yours to settle.
Starlight Drive In
Kill all the mole rats at this location to open up the Workshop station.
Sunshine Tidings Co-op
This settlement is yours after killing all the Feral Ghouls in the area. Be sure to check every single last house. When the settlement is yours, you shouldn't have to build any shacks for your settlers, instead filling each empty bungalow with beds or sleeping bags.
Taffington Boathouse
This settlement is obtained by clearing the enemies at the behest of Preston Garvey during the Minutemen missions.
Tenpines Bluff
This settlement is obtained by clearing the enemies at the behest of Preston Garvey during the Minutemen missions.
Warwick Homestead
Complete the quest Building a Better Crop to earn access to this settlement's Workshop station.