Sharon and its old-fashioned downtown are surrounded by farmland
Surrounded by nothing but miles of farmland, Sharon is a small town with two restaurants, an ice cream shop and brick, Victorian storefronts with decorative arched windows and other ornate details. “If you have breakfast at the diner, you’ll find everyone knows everyone else. It’s like something out of an old movie,” says Kristin Stahulak, a Realtor with Keller Williams of Walworth County. “If someone’s looking for quiet, rural and old-fashioned with a small-town feeling, that is Sharon. Little old-fashioned towns like that are getting harder and harder to find.” Though it’s the epitome of small-town America, Sharon is between Milwaukee and Madison, the state’s capital and its largest city.
Original Victorian, Craftsman homes surrounded by farm-style properties
Sunlight peeks through the foliage of mature, leafy trees that shade green lawns in Sharon’s central village. Vast farm fields surround these verdant residential areas, comprising Sharon outside of its small, central stretch of businesses. Sidewalks recount the area's history as they pass by Craftsman, Victorian and national folk-style houses built between 1900 and 1920. These homes often come with barns, sheds and more than a third of an acre of property, ranging from $200,000 to $325,000. Farmhouses on the outskirts of the village with barns and stables on about 3 acres of land or more fetch anywhere from $365,000 to $700,000.
Locally owned restaurants contribute to Sharon’s old-time feel
A nostalgic downtown with a handful of local eateries anchors Sharon. “It’s a little slower-paced, and you almost feel like you step back in time,” Stahulak says. “They’re not big on bringing in the chains. You’re not going to see Starbucks or Chipotle [Mexican Grill]. It’s more small, locally owned businesses.” Coffee Cup Cafe serves Swedish pancakes and other classic breakfast dishes, like Denver omelets and country-fried steak and eggs. Grill masters tend to various smoked meats on the patio behind Pat's Brew & ‘Que, while locals enjoy burgers and barbecue inside, under buck skulls and antlers mounted on wood-paneled walls. A collection of cement benches and wrought iron chairs outside Myrt’s Ice Cream Shoppe invites customers to enjoy their confections outside. Grocery stores, like Daniels Foods, can be found in Walworth, about 9 miles away.
Equidistant from Madison and Milwaukee, the state’s largest cities
Sharon is equidistant from the two largest cities in the state. Interstate 43 leads to Milwaukee, which is about 65 miles away. United States Route 14 intersects with Interstate 90, which drivers can take to Madison, roughly 65 miles away as well. Downtown Chicago is about 90 miles away via Interstate 90. While no public transit services stop directly in Sharon, Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest rail line picks passengers up in Harvard before departing toward Chicago’s West Loop. The closest commercial flights leave from Chicago Rockford International Airport, which is approximately 40 miles away.
Sharon’s Roun’da Manure Bicycle Tour
The town’s annual bike tour includes four different routes, looping to Darien, Fontana, Poplar Grove and Shopiere and back. Its unique name evolved from randonneur rides, originally organized for cyclists qualifying for the Paris-Brest-Paris event, as well as the dairy country they were held in.
Sledding in Ray-Mar Park and gaga ball at Goodland Memorial Park
Three community green spaces are scattered throughout Sharon. Ray-Mar Park is a popular destination for sledding once snow blankets the town, though its playground gets use year-round. Goodland Park also has a play area, in addition to horseshoe pits and a sandy pit for gaga ball. A gazebo stands behind Sharon’s Veterans Memorial, where stone placards honor locals who served in several wars in the center of town.
The student body at Big Foot High School gets involved
Children in the neighborhood may begin their educations with prekindergarten through eighth grade at Sharon Community School, which receives a B-minus from Niche. They may then move on to Big Foot High School, which also scores a B-minus. The high school offered 12 Advanced Placement courses in 2024 and maintains 25 co-curricular activities, including three different choirs, three different band ensembles as well as clubs for archery, art and equestrian activities. More than 81% of students participated in two or more activities during the 2024 calendar year.
