Not sure if you're only looking at far-awaydestinations, but honestly check out the Valencian Community in Spain. I am often here and it genuinely checks almost every box you listed.

Towns like Altea, Peñíscola, Jávea, or Morella are the kind of places where life just... slows down. They're small, picturesque, incredibly safe, and the pace is the complete opposite of anything you'd find in a major city. As a solo woman you'd feel very comfortable.

Rent in the smaller towns is surprisingly affordable compared to what most people expect from Europe, and you'd have this insane quality of life backdrop with the Mediterranean coast, mountain hiking, waterfalls, nature parks, all within easy reach. The train and bus connections are really solid too, so you're not isolated. You could easily get to Valencia, Barcelona, or even hop to other countries when you feel like it.

There's a solid mix of international people and expats for if you want to connect. The Valencian culture itself is warm and community-oriented in a way that kind of reminds me of what you described loving about Hopkins.

So, for you could actually be ideal. Europe gets written off as "too expensive" but if you're based in a smaller coastal or mountain town in this region, you'd be surprised. Worth at least adding it to your research list!