Meet the Money Magazine Cover Family

By Leah Eisenstadt

You may have heard that Sharon was named the best small town in the United States in the magazine’s September issue. But do you know the lovely family gracing the issue’s cover?

Meet Farzin Karim and Rushdy Ahmad, and their children Aneeza and Ayaan. The family joined the community of Sharon in January 2013, for many of the same reasons highlighted in the magazine: excellent schools, diverse community, and great commuting location. “We moved here for the school system,” explains Rushdy, a research scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge. Their children were previously in a private school, but once they moved to Sharon, they enrolled in one of the public elementary schools. They have been very pleased with the teachers, students, and programs offered at the school. Given the welcoming environment, Aneeza and Ayaan made friends quickly and the transition was very smooth. 

Sharon’s commuter options and its position between Boston and Providence also factored into the family’s decision to move. Rushdy takes the commuter rail and subway to work. “For years, I commuted an hour and a half, so this is heaven,” he says. His wife, Farzin, Vice President at a financial services firm, drives to the company’s office in Rhode Island. “She commutes against the traffic in the opposite direction, so in Sharon, we’re right in the middle.”

Prior to moving, the couple eyed the Sharon real estate market for years. When a lot to build a new home opened up, they took the leap.

The couple’s realtor, David Wluka, was first approached by editors from MONEY Magazine about their annual Best Places to Live issue, and referred their senior writer Donna Rosato to speak with Farzin.  She spent time talking with Donna about why they moved to Sharon as well as the family’s experience with the town since they moved here.  She is quoted in the feature story, appearing in the issue that hits newsstands Friday.

In the selection process, the magazine’s editors begin with 1,326 small towns in America and use a variety of criteria to whittle those down to a few dozen locales that they visit in person. During their visit to Sharon, the Ahmad family was asked to pose for photographs at Lake Massapoag, and that’s when they suspected that Sharon might be on the short list of finalists. “We spent nearly a half-day with a big production crew, which was kind of surprising,” Rushdy says.

During the photo shoot, magazine representatives were tight-lipped about Sharon’s placement in the listing, but the family would soon have their answer. This Monday, they saw their picture on CNN, during a story announcing Sharon’s selection as the best small town in the country. 

Despite their newfound local fame, the Ahmad family is savoring small-town life in their new home. They spend warm summer days on the beach at Lake Massapoag and go for hikes at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, local gems that long-time residents have enjoyed for years. Crescent Ridge Creamery is along Rushdy’s drive home from the commuter rail station. “From the train, I sometimes stop by and sneak in a cone on my way home,” he confesses.

Read more about Sharon’s new recognition as the country’s Best Place to Live in the September 2013 issue of Money Magazine.