A town’s motto can reveal exactly what’s charming about the place, and it’s also shorthand for its unique quirks. Northampton, in western Massachusetts, isn’t the only place in the Bay State to grab a cup of Joe or promote independent thinking. But it is the only town there with the unofficial motto: “Where the coffee is strong and so are the women.” The coffee that can be found in the town’s many cafés is not only strong but delicious, and the women mentioned in the slogan include students — and alumnae — of Smith College, whose campus at the edge of downtown is one of the most beautiful in all of New England. “It is tangibly different from any other college town,” said Andrea Monson of the Downtown Northampton Association. “There’s always been this social justice spirit in the area, even dating back hundreds of years.” Long a welcoming haven for gays and lesbians, Hampshire County, which is home to Northampton, has the highest concentration of same-sex female households in the US...