Sherborn

Peaceful enough even for the Dalai Lama, the small town of Sherborn is also known for its horse farms and high-ranking schools. Located 25 miles west of Boston, Sherborn is ideal for anyone wanting proximity to nature and room to spread out.

Jane Neilson is a top performing realtor with Douglas Elliman Real Estate in the Boston suburbs. She notes that Sherborn is a desirable suburb of Boston with a strong rural heritage, and ample publicly owned and protected forests, trails, and ponds. House lots are typically large, an acre or more. “Sherborn homes range in price from about $580,000 to approximately $2 million,” Neilson says. On Coolidge Street, you will find 1960s ranch-style homes for just under $650,000 and more 1960s ranch-style houses on Pleasant Street for about $600,000. There are colonials from the 1960s on cul-de-sacs off Stoneybrook Road for about $1.2 million and incredible 5-acre estates on Farm Pond that are fetching close to $6 million.

A few years ago, town officials realized the demand for housing that would allow residents who had downsized to remain in the town, close to their friends and family. The attractive 55 and older community, called Abbey Road Townhomes, was built at the site of a former retreat that once attracted notable guests including Margaret Thatcher and the Dalai Lama. Here you will find two-bedroom condominium units for about $900,000. “These town homes are a terrific example of thoughtfully designed cluster homes in an in-town location. They are beautiful and sustainable and designed for empty nesters who want to stay in Sherborn,” Neilson says.

In addition to spacious lots and attractive housing, folks often move to Sherborn for its highly regarded school system. Pine Hill Elementary, for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, has an incredibly dedicated administration and faculty. On two Wednesdays each month, school dismisses at noon so teachers can attend workshops and plan curriculum. Secondary students in Sherborn attend the Dover-Sherborn Regional Middle School and Dover-Sherborn Regional High School, both of which boast an A+ rating from Niche.

“The schools here are fantastic,” Neilson says. “Massachusetts has outstanding public schools and the Dover-Sherborn school district is perennially highly ranked by Boston Magazine and has an A+ rating from Niche.com."

Sherborn has some beautiful spaces that allow you to get out and connect with nature. You can sail, row and fish at Farm Pond, a kettle lake that formed thousands of years ago from a melting New England glacier. Farm Pond is also a popular spot for summer swimming and is staffed with lifeguards from June until August.

“Farm Pond is owned by the town, so it doesn’t get crowded with tourists,” Neilson says.

Another spot in town, Sweet Meadow Farm, offers horseback riding lessons and hosts summer camps. Neilson notes that it’s a fun venue for birthday parties, and party guests can interact with animals, decorate a miniature horse and even ride a unicorn. You can also schedule a tour to meet the animals of Unity Farm Sanctuary, a facility dedicated to the lifetime care of animals with special needs.

You can enjoy a meal at Heritage of Sherborn on Main Street. If the weather’s nice, you’ll want to have brunch on the patio. Dining is also available in the restaurant’s relaxed pub setting and the formal dining room. The locally owned restaurant offers a seasonal menu of farm-inspired cuisine. When you’re in the mood for something more casual, C&L Frosty, also on Main Street, is a great place to meet friends for burgers and ice cream.

Residents of Sherborn restock the pantry at Wegmans and Stop & Shop in nearby Natick. Only four miles from Sherborn, Natick is also home to a mall with upscale stores including Brooks Brothers, Louis Vuitton and Nordstrom.

Living in Sherborn can mean driving a few miles to retail centers and even to drop the kids off at school, since the regional middle and high schools are in Dover. But it also means having access to a quality school system, plenty of room to spread out and a sense of peace that is hard to put a price on.