I’m sticking to rural CT. We’re not too close to any interstates, and most the urban urchins will be thinking of heading south. Plenty of woods around (right next to a big state forest), and water as well. Already building up our gardening skills and like you said, we know how to hack the weather when we lose power for week or two in the dead of winter (which happens more often than you’d think). Summers are very pleasant with only maybe 5-6 days of real sweltering.
Not ideal with the population density, as I think northern NH, VT, ME or NY would be best, but oh well. My family has lived in town for over 40 years and we know a lot of people.
I lived in CT. I hope you’d be safe from the hoodrats of Springfield, Hartford and New Haven.