[tlknows]

Which do you prefer and why? I am thinking about purchasing a weekend home in NM and someone family claims that Sherman is a better location.

What do you think?

[JayCT]

Sherman is a bit more rural than New Milford and because of that may have a bit more of a more upscale reputation, but I would hardly limit my home search area to just Sherman because of that. Look for a home that fits your needs and budget. Either town would be fine. JMHO Jay

[HelloSam]

Sherman is a town with a population of only around 4,000. Sherman is Fairfield County; New Milford is Litchfield County. People who live in Sherman really *love* Sherman. There's some serious town spirit there, and a lot of weekend homeowners. Because of its smallness, it might be easier to meet other people there...just hit American Pie Company for breakfast a few times and you'll feel like a townie in no time.

[Ourdreamhouse]

I lived in Sherman for 12 years, but moved away in '90, so my view may be somewhat out of date.

Sherman has been one of the most highly rated small towns in the State, according Connecticut Magazine's annual survey, and for good reason. It is a jewel: beautiful, mostly unspoiled, historic, unpretentious, fiscally well-managed, and full of intelligent, friendly, civic-minded people. For example, I believe that the cost of the 35 year-old Town Hall was funded by a former resident in her will. The primary school is small (a very good thing, IMO), there are plenty of recreational facilities (marina and beach on the lake, tennis, etc.), a quaint town center. When i lived there, there was even a small but entertaining theatre company. (It may still be there.) It feels like a close community, even though some of the residents are weekending New Yorkers. The populace is very affluent -- not gaudy rich -- although not very diverse. When i was there, life in Sherman seemed to make sense, a refuge of sanity in a sometimes crazy world.

However, Sherman lacks some things: a high school, easy access to public transportation, and one or two first-class restaurants. High school students must travel to a neighboring town. There is a restuarant or two, but i haven't tried them. Commuting is impossible without a car, and rush hour travel to Danbury or points south can be problematic.


By comparison, New Milford, just off busy Route 7, is much larger. The town green is attractive and outlying areas have some beautiful, historic homes. There's also much more shopping, restaurants, a high school, etc. but also much more traffic, development (concrete and blacktop), some unattractive buildings and vistas, and much less of a sense of community.

If you're from a big city, New Milford will seem like a country town. If you're from Sherman, you will nearly have culture shock at the hustle and bustle.

[tlknows]

Thanks for all the help advice.

[bluecountry]

Weird that FF County has actual rural towns.
How come Sherman in FF County is rural but New Milford in Litchfield County...a known rural area...is not?

[hvexpatinct]

Originally Posted by bluecountry

Weird that FF County has actual rural towns.
How come Sherman in FF County is rural but New Milford in Litchfield County...a known rural area...is not?

Rural vs. urban is determined by a lot of things. Torrington isn't rural at all either, but it's Litchfield County.

New Milford is, I believe, the biggest town, square mileage wise, in the state. And a portion of it is really pretty rural. Merryall and Northville are basically the stereotypical bucolic rural northwestern Connecticut hamlets. Housing values, lot sizes, etc. reflect that. But the closer you get to Fairfield County, the less rural it is. Route 7/Danbury Road's got quite a bit of retail, and it draws not only from greater New Milford but from eastern parts of NY state that are also extraordinarily rural and remote. It's only growing bigger now, with plans for a Target-anchored lifestyle center etc.

Sherman is a little wedge of land that's actually west of New Milford but farther north than anything in Ffld County. It abuts a pretty rural part of southern Dutchess County in New York State. Sherman is not easy to access, there are only secondary and tertiary roads going there. Also, I'm sure it's been painstakingly zoned over the years to maintain its character.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by hvexpatinct

Sherman abuts a pretty rural part of southern Dutchess County in New York State.

That area of southern Dutchess County is the Quaker Hill section of Pawling. This area is known for its saltbox and meeting house architecture as well as second homes for notable personalities. Years ago, it was rumored that Daryl Hall and John Oates once considered buying the Lowell Thomas estate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_Thomas).