Anything you see about busy pace in Mass., is in Boston and the immediate area. The smaller cities are much more laid back -- Worcester, Springfield, also the cities along the NH/VT, NY and CT/RI borders... much less rush-rush. But of course the rural towns are even more laid back! 
Look into the Blackstone Valley area in central Mass., and anything west of or north of Worcester. Also, southeastern Mass. -- the area just north of Buzzard's Bay. Many overlooked small towns there with great atmosphere and affordable house rentals.
Western Mass. and anything north/south/west of Quabbin Reservoir... Lots of lovely little towns with agricultural values.
Watch out for the "Metro West" though -- very expensive bedroom communities just outside of Boston, and many have ordinances that keep out livestock, even though they are former farm towns. The westernmost part of the state is gorgeous but there are pricey pockets of towns around the resort areas.
I'd say there are plenty of towns in Mass. where you could rent a farmhouse or village/small town house with a big yard, woods in back, and that allows geese. I live in Salem, Mass. and we have no ordinances against poultry and livestock. I have geese, ducks and chickens on a small urban/suburban property, and have kept goats and turkeys too! So, you should be able to get something you like too. Good luck.
Look into the Blackstone Valley area in central Mass., and anything west of or north of Worcester. Also, southeastern Mass. -- the area just north of Buzzard's Bay. Many overlooked small towns there with great atmosphere and affordable house rentals.Western Mass. and anything north/south/west of Quabbin Reservoir... Lots of lovely little towns with agricultural values.
Watch out for the "Metro West" though -- very expensive bedroom communities just outside of Boston, and many have ordinances that keep out livestock, even though they are former farm towns. The westernmost part of the state is gorgeous but there are pricey pockets of towns around the resort areas.
I'd say there are plenty of towns in Mass. where you could rent a farmhouse or village/small town house with a big yard, woods in back, and that allows geese. I live in Salem, Mass. and we have no ordinances against poultry and livestock. I have geese, ducks and chickens on a small urban/suburban property, and have kept goats and turkeys too! So, you should be able to get something you like too. Good luck.
