Toms River is the county seat and largest town in Ocean County, New Jersey (also includes Dover, both are part of Toms River Township).  The 2010 population was about 90,000.  Residents of nearby towns like Brick, Manahawkin, and Lakewood tend to come here for shopping or doctor's appointments.  It has a busy downtown thanks to many government buildings, yet it…...

Chapel Hill is a particularly beautiful (population just over 53,000) college town in the gentle hills of central North Carolina. The University of North Carolina (24,000 students) is the centerpiece of this charming  town with a cosmopolitan flair that makes it appealing as a retirement community. This entire area is highly educated, with Duke University nearby in Durham, and NC…...

Ruskin is a small town south of Tampa on Florida's west coast (population 28,620 in 2020). It is an unincorporated community that is part of Hillsborough County. Fed up with over development, the area has petitioned the state to allow it to become a separate, incorporated city. Ruskin was founded as a utopian socialist community inspired by John Ruskin....

Winchester is a small town in southern New Hampshire of less than 2,000 people. Keene and Brattleboro are the nearest towns. Outdoor activities like hiking, snow shoeing, and good skiing are all relatively close.There is at least one active adult community in the area. Photo of Congregational Church in 1910 courtesy of Wikipedia and Hugh Manatee; photo of Conant Library…...