Norwich, VT

Norwich, Vermont is one of those places that looks like a historical reconstruction version of an old New England settlement. You expect plainly clothed citizens to emerge from the white clapboard homes -- think Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts -- but it is, in fact, a very "au courant" community attractive to Dartmouth professors and doctors as well as free-thinking artists, writers and simply those interested in living as part of a small community.

In addition to folks who work in education and medicine, you'll find a handful of non-profit organizations as well as small-scale farmers. Located in Windsor County, this town along the Connecticut River, just a mile or so from Hanover and Dartmouth College , has a population of about 3,414. While the Village Green and the local elementary school might be considered the center of the town, the gas station and General Store that has EVERYTHING, Dan and Whit's, is arguably Norwich's best meeting place. The Norwich Inn, The Norwich Bookstore, Post Office, yoga studios, wine stores and many other small shops, as well as attorneys and doctors' offices are all within walking distance of each other.