Central MA does have “affordable” housing $300-500k range. A lot will really depend what you want near you. I live in Pepperell, it really has no restaurants to speak of and we get a lot of snow, but I can hit Boston in an 1.5 hour, however, Lowell, Nashua NH, Fitchburg and Worcester are less than an hour. This opens a-lot of options from outdoor sports and recreation, to, if you are into music, the new Groton Hill Music Center. Not only a fabulous performance center, but a top notch place to take music lessons (kids and adults). I lived in NC about 30 years ago, both on the Outer Banks and Western NC, beautiful state, but in many ways, although MA is developed, there are many areas where the pace is slower. Pepperell boasts not having a single traffic light.
Like many have said, schools are good to great, healthcare is excellent, people do mind their own business, but communities do abound, I think it depends how involved you want to be. All the best in your move.