You really need to add a budget when asking questions like this. Looking for 2+ acres with a good local scene that’s going to welcome in somebody from “away” is asking a lot, especially since we don’t know if your house budget is $250k or $2.5m.

Depending on what’s more important to you, open land, or community you’re going to get very different answers.

As an artists looking to set up a studio and make a living, I would suggest looking further south in the CT River Valley of Massachusetts. Greenfield, Turners Falls, Northampton, Easthampton all have thriving artist communities and the resources to help you get your business running. Western Mass is far more VT like than Boston, but a little more populated. Still plenty of open space, hiking, and farms. These areas are also full of “transplants” since there are major colleges in the areas, so you won’t be looked down on for “being from away, coming up to buy our limited houses that us locals can’t afford to buy anymore”