Living in Sherborn MA is a surefire way of improving your life! According to the Town of Sherborn, the Massachusetts and Nipmuck tribes lived in the Sherborn area for thousands of years before English settlers arrived in Sherborn in 1652. The English settlers’ community was originally called “Boggestow,” an Indigenous word referring to the meadows along the Charles River.
The colonial government incorporated Boggestow as a town in 1674, renaming it to “Sherborne” after a town in England. Sherborn remained a small farming town for hundreds of years, with very few people moving to Sherborn. At one time, Sherborn was home to the largest refined cider mill in the world.
In the early 1900s, wealthy families moved into the community and built estates and summer homes in Sherborn. After World War II, the community began to modernize and become a suburb of Boston. Sherborn today is known for its rural heritage, active farms, and extensive public lands. It’s a nice place to live, especially if you’re looking for a quiet and small town to raise a family or settle down in.
Moving to Sherborn may be the right idea for you and your family. But you should learn more about living in Sherborn MA before you take the plunge. Here’s what to know about this great town.
Where Is Sherborn?
Sherborn is a small town in Middlesex County, inside the Boston metro area and the Boston MetroWest region. Sherborn is a suburb of Boston, and it is 19.9 miles from Sherborn to Boston. Neighboring towns to Sherborn include Natick, Framingham, Ashland, Holliston, Millis, Medfield, and Dover.
Sherborn strives to preserve its rural charm, so there are large undeveloped spaces and other extensive public lands throughout the community. According to the Town of Sherborn, open space comprises over 500 acres in Sherborn. Residential and commercial areas are very small and connected by winding tree lined roads. Sherborn contains Farm Pond and a couple of small ponds.
Sherborn does not have any access to public transportation services, including those from the MBTA and MWRTA. Massachusetts Routes 27 and 115 run through the community and provide access to towns and cities near Boston, so you can drive to work and start moving to Sherborn. Some roads lack sidewalks or have uneven surfaces, so you should drive when traveling between locations in Sherborn.
Sherborn Population and Demographics
According to the US Census, the Sherborn population in 2020 was 4,401, up by 6.8% since 2010. Sherborn’s population more than quadrupled between 1930 and 1980, but it has since slowed down. Sherborn is one of the smallest towns in Middlesex County, though it’s growing at a similar rate to Middlesex County. The Sherborn population density is 275.1 people living in Sherborn MA per square mile, roughly one-seventh of the Middlesex County density.
Notable people living in Sherborn MA include Eli Dershwitz, Mel Robbins, and Chad Urmston. Notable Sherborn demographics include:
- 50.5% female, 49.5% male
- Median age of people living in Sherborn MA: 42.3
- Racial and ethnic composition of residents living in Sherborn MA: 82.7% White (81.7% non-Hispanic), 8.1% two or more races, 7.6% Asian, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American and Alaska Native, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
- Median household income of people living in Sherborn MA: $247,500 (nearly 2.5 times higher than the state median)
- Educational attainment of residents living in Sherborn MA: 99.6% of residents older than 25 have graduated from high school, 81.2% have a bachelor’s degree
- Foreign-born population of people living in Sherborn MA: 12.6%
Sherborn is a kid-friendly town. 29.9% of Sherborn residents are under the age of 18, over 10 percentage points higher than the state rate. Sherborn is also a fairly wealthy community, with its median household income being two times higher than the countywide median. Only 1.8% of residents living in Sherborn MA live below the poverty line, roughly one-fifth of the Massachusetts rate. Married couples head over 90% of households living in Sherborn MA.
Sherborn is one of the safest towns or cities near Boston. Here are its latest crime rates, according to the FBI in 2022:
- Overall crime rate: 251 offenses per 100,000 people living in Sherborn MA (90.5% lower than the Boston crime rate, 82.0% lower than the state rate, 89.2% lower than the national rate)
- Violent crime rate: 91 crimes per 100,000 residents living in Sherborn MA (71.7% lower than the Massachusetts rate, 75.4% lower than the national average)
- Property crime rate: 160 crimes per 100,000 residents living in Sherborn MA (85.0% lower than the Massachusetts rate, 91.8% lower than the national rate)
The Sherborn Police Department employs 18 police officers living in Sherborn MA who respond to all emergencies in Sherborn.
Cost of Living in Sherborn MA
Sherborn cost of living statistics can be hard to find. Given that Sherborn is just 20 miles southwest of Boston, you can use Boston cost of living statistics to estimate the cost of living in Sherborn MA. The Boston cost of living index is 146.5, meaning items in the metro area cost 46.5% more than the national average. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would need to earn $154,387 a year to cover the cost of living in Middlesex County. Housing costs are the biggest expense at $2,814 a month ($33,768 a year, excluding property taxes).
The cost of living in Sherborn MA may be high for everyone. But you can save money in a few ways after moving to Sherborn, like buying a condo instead of a single-family home. Singles living in Sherborn MA will enjoy a more affordable cost of living because they won’t pay for child care.
Sherborn MA real estate can be expensive, but you can get an upscale private property with a lot of amenities and a big land area. According to Redfin, Sherborn MA homes for sale have a median price of $1,194,500, with an average price per square foot of $419. There are no Sherborn apartments, so costs for rent are hard to find.
Typical Sherborn* Living Expenses
- 12 regular eggs: $4.81
- 1 pound of bananas: $0.99
- 1 pound of tomatoes: $3.52
- 1 gallon of gasoline: $3.44
- Average Sherborn* utilities per month: $194.41
- 1 pair of mid-range Nike running shoes: $104.86
Source: Numbeo
*Typical expenses actually for Boston
Sherborn Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Sherborn
Sherborn does not have any formal neighborhoods due to its small size and large undeveloped areas. You can find a mixture of single family homes and condos for sale in Sherborn. Single family homes tend to be stately and upscale, with Colonial homes being popular. These Sherborn MA homes for sale have at least three bedrooms and over 4,000 square feet with ornate features like gabled roofs. Condos tend to be newer and have features like high ceilings. Nearly all properties cost over $1 million, with many homes for sale costing over $2 million. Condos are cheaper, but they can still cost over $1 million.
There are no apartment complexes in Sherborn. Homes for rent are on the market, though your options may be limited. Homes for rent have similar features to homes for sale, being large properties with several bedrooms and stately amenities. Homes for rent can cost over $6,000 a month.
Sherborn Weather and Climate
Sherborn has a humid continental climate, with warm summers and cold and snowy winters. According to Weather Spark, July is the hottest month of the year, with an average temperature of 72 degrees and an average high of 82. Temperatures peak in mid July and then decline steadily through the late summer and autumn. January is the coldest month of Sherborn weather, with an average temperature of 27 degrees and an average low of 20. Average lows are below freezing between late November and late March.
Sherborn receives an average of 37.3 inches of rain and 37.4 inches of snow annually. Each month has at least seven days of precipitation, and at least one-third of the days in each month are cloudy. The rainfall creates a moderate humidity in the summertime, though muggy or oppressive conditions are uncommon.
Sherborn can experience severe snowstorms, blizzards, and nor’easters that drop over a foot of snow in one or two days. These storms can also have high winds that create power outages. Check Sherborn weather forecasts during the winter so you can prepare for storms in advance.
September is the best month to visit and start moving to Sherborn. It has an average temperature of 62 degrees, so you can stay comfortable in a long-sleeved shirt and a light jacket. Fall colors usually start appearing in late September, and farms and orchards are usually open with family-friendly attractions like apple picking.
Things to Do in Sherborn MA
You can enjoy a wide range of things to do in Sherborn MA, including kid-friendly outdoor attractions! Art’s Specialties is the top grocery store in Sherborn, well-known for its frozen meals and wine selection. Ocean Dreams Market offers eco-friendly household goods and gifts, while Heaven On Earth is a top antique store.
Farm Pond
Farm Pond covers roughly 125 acres and is open throughout the year for boating and swimming. You can rent a boat from the Sherborn Yacht Club, or you can bring your own boat on the pond and enjoy the scenic beauty of the woods near Sherborn.
Sunshine Farm
Sunshine Farm is the top farm to visit in Sherborn. You can pick your fruit between May and October, including sweet corn, salad greens, and blueberries. You can also order ice cream, freshly baked pastries, and other items from an on-site farm stand while living in Sherborn MA.
41 Kendall Avenue, Sherborn, MA, 01770, 508-655-5022
Rocky Narrows
Rocky Narrows is a nature area that covers 274 acres and contains seven miles of hiking trails. Rocky Narrows is free to visit throughout the year between dawn and dusk, and dogs are permitted on all trails.
87 Forest Street, Sherborn, MA, 01770, 508-785-0339
Additional Things to Do in Sherborn MA
The Sherborn Recreation Commission plans educational programs, summer camps, and other special events throughout the year. You can use the Town of Sherborn events calendar to see when these events will take place while living in Sherborn MA.
Sherborn Restaurants
The Boston area is well known for its quaint and family-friendly restaurants, including seafood restaurants and ice cream parlors. You can try out kid-friendly and casual experiences at a range of Sherborn restaurants.
Rustic Pizza
Rustic Pizza is a casual, family-owned pizzeria that serves brick oven pizza with fresh ingredients. Large pizzas with four or more toppings cost less than $22, letting you feed your family at an affordable cost. You can also order subs, salads, and wraps, all of which cost less than $12.
21 South Main Street, Sherborn, MA, 01770, 508-655-6900
Fireside Tavern Sherborn
Fireside Tavern Sherborn offers classic American dishes like grilled chicken sandwiches, braised short ribs, and fish and chips in a casual setting. Fireside Tavern Sherborn is the best place in Sherborn for drinks, serving over a dozen cocktails, draft beers, and white and red wines. The restaurant offers Sunday brunch as well, with most dishes costing less than $20.
33 North Main Street, Sherborn, MA, 01770, 508-545-1970
C & L Frosty
C & L Frosty is the top quick-service restaurant in Sherborn, serving fresh hamburgers, French fries, and sandwiches. It’s also the best place for ice cream in Sherborn, serving over 30 flavors of hard and soft ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbets, and sorbets.
27 North Main Street, Sherborn, MA, 01770, 508-655-7570
Jobs in Sherborn
According to the 495/MetroWest Partnership, 2,364 people have jobs in Sherburn. Accommodation and food services, construction, and professional services are the three biggest industries by Sherborn jobs. 185 businesses are open in Sherborn, including 41 businesses in professional services and 17 in finance and insurance. Residents living in Sherborn MA have a per capita income of $110,567, roughly twice the Massachusetts per capita income.
According to Payscale, the average salary in Sherborn is $97,000 a year, with an average hourly rate of $26.00. Major employers in Sherborn include Walgreens, Dunkin’, and Sunshine Farm. You can use Indeed to research jobs in Sherborn, and you can apply for Town of Sherborn jobs on the town government’s website.
Sherborn Schools
Many people start moving to Sherborn for its excellent schools and education programs. The Dover-Sherborn Public Schools school system serves all students living in Sherborn MA, as well as in Dover. The district contains four schools:
- Chickering Elementary School, a PK-5 school
- Pine Hill Elementary School, a PK-5 school
- Dover-Sherborn Regional Middle School, a 6-8 school
- Dover-Sherborn Regional High School, a 9-12 school
All four schools receive top rankings from US News. US News ranks both Chickering Elementary School and Pine Hill Elementary School in the top 250 elementary schools in Massachusetts. US News ranks Dover-Sherborn Regional Middle School in the top 50 high schools in Massachusetts. 72% of middle school students test at or above the proficiency levels in mathematics and reading.
US News ranks Dover-Sherborn Regional High School in the top 10 high schools in Massachusetts. Boston Magazine ranks Dover-Sherborn Regional High School as the best high school in the Greater Boston area. The school has won dozens of league and state championships in athletics, mock trial, chess, and other extracurricular programs. The school has a graduation rate of 99%, and 68% of students pass at least one AP Exam.
Sherborn is not home to any private schools, colleges, or universities. The Sherborn Library serves all residents living in Sherborn MA.
Sherborn Statistics and Information
- County: Middlesex County
- Sherborn area: 16.2 square miles
- Sherborn zip code: 01770
- Sherborn area code: 508 and 774
- Sherborn elevation: 175 feet
- Sherborn time zone: Eastern Time Zone (UTC -4 and -5)
- Closest airport to Sherborn: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), located 22.1 miles from Sherborn
Sherborn MA Map
You can use this map of Sherborn MA to find the best things to do in Sherborn, amenities, and restaurants!
Start Living in Sherborn MA
Living in Sherborn MA gives you access to safe streets, upscale houses, great schools, and delicious restaurants! It’s no wonder that many families with young children are moving to Sherborn, alongside retirees and commuters into Boston.
Mass Bay Movers can make your upcoming move easy. Our Sherborn movers perform over 2,000 moves a year, including many moves to Sherborn. Call 978-587-3775 for a free estimate now.
