Sudbury, MA —
An Inside Scoop from a Longtime Resident

Sudbury is a gorgeous, historic town with lovely homes and an excellent school system. It is best suited for people who like a little more rural feel but want their entertainment, shopping and services nearby. I’ve lived in town for 20 years and based on my experiences the people are very friendly. The community protects open space, has wonderful active/passive recreation opportunities and feels like a world away from Boston, yet is only 16 miles from downtown, close to the Mass Pike and has multiple train stations nearby.

Pros:

  • Easy access to Mass Pike, Rt 128 and Rt 495.
  • Most people don’t want to take time out of their day to drive to the next town to grocery shop or to grab some lunch …
    • Restaurants in town: Foodies will love the many, varied fare and price points, some deliver, plenty of parking.
    • Shopping in town: Many small boutique, specialty stores in town but no big box stores. Those are nearby in Natick, Framingham and Marlborough. The shopping mecca of the Natick Collection/Shopper’s World is less than 15 minutes away.
    • Grocery Stores in town: Sudbury Farms and Shaws, Whole Foods and Stop & Shop in Wayland, Trader Joe’s nearby in Framingham.

"Excellent police force, extremely low crime rate."

  • Lots of local concerts, sporting events, theaters & amenities
  • Excellent library facility includes on-line reservations & downloads of e-books
  • Commuter rail stations nearby: For South Station closest is Framingham.
    • For North Station closest is Acton. For Green Line closest is Riverside in Newton. Express bus to Logan airport in Framingham.
  • Although the school system is highly ranked (Boston Magazine ranks it high and the schools have earned recognition multiple times in U.S. News & World Report for college readiness), it doesn’t come across as the pressure-cooker that Lexington and Brookline are. Many parents I have talked with say it delivers “as advertised”.
  • Lots of great community organizations – both civic and social
  • A medium-density population with large lot sizes… ¾ to 1 acre minimum zoning, smaller lots grandfathered, up to 5 acre zoning in historic wayside inn district
  • Schools belong to the Metco program, exposing the kids to diversity.

"Gleaming new/renovated schools built when State assistance was high."

  • Low town debt load and high bond rating.
  • Home to many fitness centers, yoga studios, hair and nail salons, and larger organized indoor/outdoor sporting facilities.
  • Summer farmer’s markets, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) with different levels of commitment, community gardens and the Sudbury Grange with it’s educational programs.
  • A wide choices of houses of worship nearby in almost any religion you practice
  • Oldest continuously-running Town Meeting
  • Robust senior center with many programs, activities and opportunities for active seniors.

Cons:

  • No commuter rail station/public transportation to speak of in town.
  • Housing tends toward larger size homes and prices are high.
  • There definitely is a lack of walk-ability here.
  • High taxes
  • No town curbside trash pickup. You can pay for pick up or use the transfer/recycling station.
  • There is a lack of socioeconomic diversity.
  • There are restrictions on livestock ownership.

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