Town file
Sharon, Massachusetts
Sharon, Massachusetts (Norfolk County, Massachusetts) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 697, "The Perverted Professor" (7 May 2026). Robin Nadine Benedict was born on 19 July 1961 and grew up in Methuen, Massachusetts, near Lawrence on the New Hampshire border, the fourth of five children and the first daughter.
- Town
- Sharon
- County
- Norfolk County
- State
- Massachusetts
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 697
- Approximate location
- 42.118, -71.186
Episode 697 / 7 May 2026 / 185 min / full
The Perverted Professor
""We are going to Sharon, Massachusetts this week" ... "This is in Norfolk County"" about 0:04:56
The case: Murder of Robin Benedict (March 1983). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2026
- Population
- 18,477
- Median age
- 42.6
- Median household income
- $157,928
- Median home value
- $703,200
- Two-bedroom rent
- $2,920
- Cost of living
- 144
- Religious
- 65.5%
- Property crime
- ▼ about one quarter of the national average
- Violent crime
- ▼ less than one third
History, in brief
- First settled as part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637. about 0:06:18
- The Unitarian and Congregational churches in the centre of Sharon both have bells made by Paul Revere, the bell maker. about 0:06:23
- Around 1755 John Seeley set up a sawmill to supply the town with lumber; the business was successful and he intended to pass it to his son Nathan. about 0:15:49
- In 1974 the Boston Redevelopment Authority officially zoned the Combat Zone as an adult entertainment district. about 0:43:43
The reviews read out
5 stars
"Enjoys the people she works with, the scenic commute and driving by the lake on the way home."about 0:06:54
5 stars
"Lived there most of her life; one of the best towns in Massachusetts, peaceful, quiet and safe."about 0:07:11
3 stars
"Most issues involve drugs or burglary and crime is not a major issue; the biggest problem is parking violations around the high school."about 0:07:27
1 star
"There is not much to do locally, though Boston, Providence and the Rhode Island beaches are close."about 0:07:51
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Needham, Massachusetts12 miles
- Raynham, Massachusetts15 miles
- Woonsocket, Rhode Island18 miles
- Framingham, Massachusetts18 miles
- Pawtucket, Rhode Island19 miles
- North Smithfield, Rhode Island21 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.