The Best Small-Town New Hampshire Communities?

Article and photo (of Littleton, N.H.) by Eric H.

What town in New Hampshire reminds you most of small-town America? We'd be interested in hearing from you about these charming, quaint, quintessential New England towns in the "Granite State."

"Small-town America" refers to a community bringing us back to a simpler, more traditional time. Often, small town America is a place of tree-lined streets with old homes, and a community where people go downtown to shop at the local hardware store, eat at the diner, have a ice cream at the local parlor, get a haircut at the barber shop, or hear a concert at the town common. Most importantly, small-town America is a place where neighbors foster close-knit neighborhoods, speak their minds at a town hall meeting forum, and believe in the glory of community spirit. It is essentially a scene from a Norman Rockwell picture with, perhaps, a comforting, safe and secure Currier and Ives look.

So, what is your favorite small-town America New Hampshire town? Your feedback will surely help those interested in visiting, or moving to this type of New Hampshire community. We look forward to hearing from you!

Read More

What New England Town Reminds You Most of Small Town America?

Article and photo (of Wrentham, MA) by Eric H.

They've been called Norman Rockwell towns, a scene out of Currier and Ives, or in our modern New England world, a "wicked cool place to be." Small town America still exists in our New England communities, although often challenged by rampant development. What are some true New England small-town elements? A wholesome look from the 1950s, many times with a town common, schools and church all within the downtown district, local diner, ice cream parlor, historic municipal buildings, a general or country store, and tree-lined side streets with big-old homes. Most importantly, small town America features lots of community events, a traditional sense of values, a slower pace of life, and close-knit, low crime neighborhoods. Although few towns seem to contain all elements of small town America, here is my current top 10 list of classic New England small towns (subject to change):

Chester, CT
South Berwick, Maine
Southwest Harbor, Maine (Acadia National Park)
Sandwich, MA (Cape Cod)
Wrentham, MA
Keene, NH
Bristol, RI
Weston, VT
Stowe, VT
Woodstock, VT

We'd be interested in hearing from you on your top list of small town America New England communities!

Read More

What Massachusetts Towns Remind You of Small-Town America?

Article and Photo (of Lord's Department Store, Medfield, MA) by Eric H.

I recently started a thread on City-Data.com asking readers "What Massachusetts Town Reminds You Most of Small-Town America?"

As we see elements of New England become supersized with big box stores, faceless strip malls -- and preservation taking a back seat -- we can thank certain communities for maintaining their small-town, local flavor. A small town feeling might include, for example, a 1940s/50s looks with tree-lined streets, old-fashioned values and a historic downtown area with, maybe, a diner, hardware store, ice cream shop, and an overall traditional, family-oriented feel. In another words, the town might have a "Leave it to Beaver" look.

What would be your idea of an idyllic, traditional small town in Massachusetts? I'll start the discussion here with Medfield. Its downtown features a department store with luncheonette (Lords), a historic old-fashioned library and Town Hall, tall white steepled church, an independently-run book store, a park area with Gazebo, and a bakery (Honey's). The streets leading from the downtown feature attractive, tree-lined streets with Colonials and Victorians, a swimming pond, and even farms. Visiting Medfield is certainly a nice way to return to yesteryear -- and it's only about a 35-minute drive from this southwest suburb to Boston!

Read More