Likewise, chose a cute little New England town when I realized that the benefits of living in a city are mostly... drunks, drugs, and concerts that are neat, but I'm unlikely to attend.
There's culture and museums and lots of different food in cities, but all I really need is a small smattering of decent establishments in exactly the vein you just mentioned. And of course a good environment for working from home.
Same. Given our requirements and price range we would not be living within walking distance of the city museums or cultural amenities anyway, and we would be about as far a walk from the closest supermarket or cafe as we are now.
I think there is something to be said for New England towns where the design of the town center predates the automobile and is therefore pleasantly dense and walkable. They just don't seem to make towns like that any more.
If you can be 100% remote and don't need the transit options to the big city then just a little further out you can find charming towns for even less.
There's culture and museums and lots of different food in cities, but all I really need is a small smattering of decent establishments in exactly the vein you just mentioned. And of course a good environment for working from home.