Travel
Which Cape Community Made The List Of New England's Best Small Towns?
The magazine Yankee, which has long been covering New England, recently published its ranking of the region's top 25.
CAPE COD, MA — A community on the Cape has made the cut among New England’s best small towns, according to Yankee magazine.
Chatham ranks 24th on the publication’s list of the top 25, released last month.
Yankee praised Chatham for its blend of luxe and laid-back.
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“The upscale boutiques and resorts of this Cape Cod village may lend a sophisticated vibe, but Chatham is a wholesome beach community at heart,” the magazine wrote.
“Tourists triple the population in summer, drawn to its winsome tableau of gray-shingled homes and white-sand beaches. The rest of the year, the tight-knit community of families, fishermen and retirees enjoy above-average schools, art classes and theater, and outdoor activities.”
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Yankee, which is based in New Hampshire and has been covering New England since 1935, set up strict qualifications for its ranking.
Towns had to have a population of less than 10,000, but also couldn't be too remote. A major airport had to be accessible within a couple of hours, and a grocery or hardware store within 30 minutes.
"We wanted to ensure that we weren’t solely picking picturesque tourist spots, but rather vibrant towns where community spirit reigns," Yankee wrote.
Topping the 25 was Essex, CT. The list included five Massachusetts towns:
- Lenox (No. 3)
- Shelburne (No. 8)
- Manchester-by-the-Sea (No. 11)
- Lincoln (No. 19)
- Chatham (No. 24)
Despite the high marks for Chatham, however, the Cape doesn’t make every list of favorites.
A prestigious magazine that caters to affluent vacationers, Travel & Leisure, last year compiled its own roster of the “best coastal small towns in New England.”
That ranking included two in Massachusetts. Both, Marblehead and Rockport, were on the North Shore.
To read the Yankee ranking, click here.
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