Sharon, MA Area Guide

First settled in 1637 as part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the town passed through several names before becoming Sharon. It was established as the district of Stoughtonham in 1765, incorporated as a town a decade later, and renamed Sharon in 1783 -- a nod to the plain referenced in the region's naming tradition, chosen to reflect the area's dense forestation.

That heritage is still visible today at the Ames Mansion inside Borderland State Park, a manor-style structure built from locally sourced stone and one of the region's most striking historic landmarks. Film crews have taken notice: the mansion appeared in the 2016 edition of "Ghostbusters." Mass Audubon's Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, also within town, holds the distinction of being the oldest Audubon sanctuary in Massachusetts.

The stretch of South Main Street near Billings Street anchors Sharon's dining scene, with a concentration of restaurants covering a wide range of cuisines. Angel's Cafe draws a steady crowd with a menu that spans waffles and falafel wraps. Nearby, Coriander Bistro serves Indian cooking, Carriage House Pizza Company handles the pizza side of things, and Mandarin Taste rounds out the immediate area.

Farther along Main Street, a second cluster of spots offers Israeli-style comfort foods at Simcha, bold Sichuan preparations including dan dan noodles at Sichuan Gourmet Sharon, and smoked brisket with couscous at the Middle Eastern-influenced A La Esh. The range of culinary options across town is notably broad.

A personal vehicle handles most daily errands in Sharon, given the town's suburban layout spread across 25 square miles. The MBTA commuter rail station on the Providence/Stoughton Line sits about a mile and a half from the town center and offers direct service to Boston South Station and Providence, Rhode Island. Depending on where you live, the station is reachable by car, on foot, or by bike.

I-95 and U.S. Route 1 are both accessible from town, giving drivers straightforward routes toward Boston, about 26 miles to the north, and Providence, roughly 30 miles to the south. Logan International Airport is approximately 23 miles away, and Rhode Island's T.F. Green Airport is reachable in just over 30 miles.

Lake Massapoag marks the heart of Sharon both geographically and socially. Memorial Park Beach draws swimmers each summer, while a seasonal concert series and annual fishing derbies give the lake year-round purpose. Anglers pursue pickerel, bass, and eel, and the lake is stocked with trout each spring. Veterans Park Beach hosts Sharon Day every October, an outdoor festival with food trucks and live music.

Mass Audubon's Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary spans 2,250 acres of trails for hiking and biking, and Borderland State Park adds another 1,250 acres that include a loop around the historic Ames Mansion. Ward's Berry Farm opens for pick-your-own fruit in summer and fall, with hayrides through the fields and a farm store stocked with prepared foods. The Museum of American Bird Art at Mass Audubon is a short drive away for those drawn to the intersection of nature and visual art.

Rents in Sharon run modestly above the Massachusetts state average. One-bedroom apartments average slightly above the statewide one-bedroom figure, and two-bedroom units reflect a comparable premium. Nearby towns such as Stoughton, Foxborough, and Walpole offer lower average rents for those weighing options in the area.

Three shopping centers serve Sharon residents within a short drive of the town center: Sharon Heights Shopping Center, Sharon Commons, and Sharon Marketplace all sit within roughly two and a half miles, offering everyday retail and services. Shaw's Supermarket, located just south of Ward's Berry Farm, handles most grocery runs.

For something more local, Ward's Berry Farm functions as a community market of its own kind, with a farm store carrying seasonal produce and prepared foods alongside the pick-your-own fields. The Main Street downtown corridor adds a handful of small retail shops for those who prefer browsing closer to home.

Sharon brings together more than 5,000 acres of public open space -- including Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary and Borderland State Park -- with direct commuter rail access to both Boston and Providence. Lake Massapoag, a walkable Main Street dining scene, and the proximity of Gillette Stadium round out a town that balances natural quiet with connectivity.