Will they get winter sun as well as summer sun?

Do you have deer?

You might try a couple of the more cold tolerant boxwoods, like 'Green Mountain' or Chicagoland Green ('Glencoe'). Both are rather susceptible to boxwood blight but a possible alternative choice to a conifer. Can't think of any other BLE's that would work in your climate :(

Boxwood green gem would stay low and wide without pruning too much. You could also go with a Boxwood Green Mountain, which would get closer to the 4-5' height. If you are looking for a little bit more color, Weigela Spilled Wine or Barberry Concorde would give a nice color but stay low.

If you can find Rhododendron 'Checkmate', one of the PJM line, they stay around 3' and the foliage turns mahogany in winter and is more green in summer. Screaming magenta spring blooms.

There are a number cultivars of small, rounded Thuja occidentalis, the native white cedar AKA arborvitae that are in the 2'-4' range.

I don't know how blue spruce, Picea pungens, does in your area, but there are several small rounded cultivars of this as well.

Neither the Weigela or barberry will be evergreen.

They will get plentiful winter sun. I have the occasional deer but rarely have a victimized plant. Thank you for all your suggestions! I'm Googling them now.

With plentiful winter sun, the Rhododendron may not be a good idea.

Thuja occidentalis are particular favorites for deer.