A city in the Greater Boston area, Watertown is known for being one of the first places that Puritan settlers founded in 1630. The official motto of Watertown, MA, is “In pace condita,” which means “Founded in Peace.” Watertown got officially incorporated on September 7th, 1630, and was once named “Water Towne,” but later got changed to the current name. The name Watertown came about because of it having plenty of fish and water when it got settled.
Watertown is a good place to live because of the low crime, family-friendly community, and endless places to explore!
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Where Is Watertown?
Watertown is in the Greater Boston area and is part of Middlesex County. A few of the surrounding cities are Boston, Cambridge, Belmont, Newton, and Waltham.
Watertown is not home to any significant geographical identifiers like rolling hills or mountains, but it does have plenty of beautiful parks to explore.
The closest big city is Boston. Watertown to Boston is 10 miles. When it comes to public transportation, there aren’t really any options within the city, but here are the closest nearby lines: MBTA Green Line, Waverly Station, Belmont Station, Newtonville Station, Bus #556, Bus #558, and Bus lines 71, 70, 70A, 52, and 59.
Watertown Population & Demographics
The population of Watertown is 35,171, and the population density is 8,801.1 people per square mile. Since 2010, Watertown has gained 3,256 residents.
A few of the notable people from Watertown are Eliza Dushku, Charles Brigham (the designer of the town seal), Tim Kurkjian, and Robert Seeley (co-founder of the town).
Watertown demographics:
- 73% White, 7% Hispanic, 12% Asian, 4% two or more races, 4% African American or Black
- Sex ratio: 54% female and 46% male
- Foreign-born population: 24.7%
- Median Household Income: $101,402, which is higher than the state median household income of $89,026
- Median Age: 39 years old
- Educational Attainment: 95.4% of the residents graduated from high school, and 65.7% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
The total crime rate in Watertown is 785 per 100k people, which is 66.5% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate is 86 per 100k people, which is 77.8% lower than the national average. And the property crime rate is 699 per 100k people, which is 64.3% lower than the national average. The city of Watertown is safe, family-friendly, and a great place to settle down!
With the Watertown Police Department, there are a total of 67 sworn officers that serve and protect this city.
Cost of Living in Watertown
The cost of living in Watertown, MA, is 49.9% higher than the national average and considered a wealthy area. While the cost of living is on the higher side, the median household income helps to balance it out. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four in Middlesex County, MA, needs to make $130,740 to live comfortably.
Typical Watertown Living Expenses
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant: $20.00
- Domestic Beer (1 pint draught): $7.00
- Milk (regular, 1 gallon): $4.20
- Bread (1 loaf): $3.61
- Oranges (1 pound): $2.26
- Apples (1 pound): $2.27
- Beef Round (1 pound): $7.29
- Eggs (regular, 12): $4.26
- Average Cost of Gasoline Per Gallon: $3.69
- Fitness Club (Per Month, 1 Adult): $78.09
- Average Watertown Utilities Per Month: $363
Source: Numbeo
The median home sale price in Watertown, MA, is $1,025,000, and the average sale price per square footage is $426. If you are looking to buy, there are plenty of beautiful Watertown, MA homes for sale.
To get a better idea about the real estate prices and figure out what you can afford, here’s a breakdown of the different types of real estate available in Watertown:
- Single-Family: $1,250,000
- Condo: $710,000
- Townhouse: $885,000
According to RentCafe, the average rent in Watertown is $3,128 for a 959-square-foot apartment. Check out the available apartments for rent in Watertown, MA!
Watertown Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Watertown
Watertown Square | Family-Friendly Watertown Neighborhood
Watertown Square is in the heart of the city. The median household income within the Watertown Square area is $95,677, and the median home sale price is $650,667. On average, the age of the average resident is 37 years old, which makes sense because it’s a great place for young adults, families, and working professionals. Plus, if you plan on taking public transportation, it’s home to the Watertown Square Station.
Bemis | Historical Watertown Neighborhood
Named after the local mill operator, Seth Bemis, this Watertown neighborhood is home to Bemis Park and plenty of fun attractions and restaurants nearby to explore. The median household income in Bemis is $102,901, and the median sale price for real estate is $414,286–which is affordable when compared to Watertown’s average home sale price being $650,000+.
Watertown Weather & Climate
The climate in Watertown, MA, is Hot Summer Continental Climate (Dfa). The summer and spring months are warm, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the low-80s. The fall and winter months are cold, cloudy, and snowy, with temperatures ranging from the low-30s to the low-60s.
If you’re interested in coming to visit Watertown, the best time is between June and September.
On average, Watertown receives a total of 34.8 inches of rain per year and a total of 35.4 inches of snowfall per year. Some of the natural disasters that can occur in the state of Massachusetts include Blizzards, flooding, and storms.
Things to Do in Watertown
There are plenty of fun things to do in Watertown. A few popular shopping centers are the Watertown Mall and the Arsenal Yards. If you’re looking for local Waterfront storefronts, you have everything from Nike Unite, Old Navy, Best Buy, Carter’s, Roche Bros Watertown, and Gordon’s Fine Wines & Liquors.
Arsenal Community Park And Skate Park
With 13.7 acres, Arsenal Park is a family-friendly and kid-friendly space to spend your free time. They have everything from a skate park, basketball court, charcoal grills, picnic tables, playground, community garden, soccer field, tennis court, softball field, and a path to walk or bike.
485 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472 (617) 972-6494
Central Rock Gym
Do you enjoy rock climbing? Then challenge yourself at the Central Rock Gym. They have over 30,000 square feet of climbing wall to test your abilities, and their highest wall goes up to 48 feet. You can use the gym for day use or purchase a membership.
74 Acton St, Watertown, MA 02472 (617) 744-0081
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The Dorthy And Charles Mosesian Center For The Arts
The Dorthy and Charles Mosesian Center For The Arts is the go-to space in Watertown to host a concert, musical, comedy show, or hosting speaking engagement. They have shows scheduled throughout the entire year that are perfect for all ages.
321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472 (617) 923-0100
Additional Places in Watertown
The Watertown Parks and Recreation Center manages a total of 13 parks. If you want to join a community event, take a look at the Watertown event calendar.
Watertown Restaurants
Food is a happy place for so many of us. Here are some of the best restaurants in Watertown, MA!
Red Lentil Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant
As an award-winning restaurant, the Red Lentil is the go-to vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Watertown. They’ve been around since 2009 and provide one-of-a-kind dishes made with only the freshest ingredients!
600 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472 (617) 972-9188
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Deluxe Town Diner
As a historical site and one of the best eateries in the Watertown area, Deluxe Town Diner has everything from breakfast (served all day) to dinner and mouth-watering pies for dessert. This diner is a family and kid-friendly restaurant, so bring the whole gang!
627 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA 02472 (617) 926-8400
Wild Willy’s Burger
With food made with fresh and high-quality ingredients, Wild Willy’s Burgers is known for having some of the top-rated burgers in the area. They have a total of three locations: Watertown, Rochester, and York. When you come to Wild Willy’s Burgers, you’ll be greeted by the friendly staff, and your meal will get made with love.
46 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472 (617) 926-9700
Jobs in Watertown
A few top industries near Watertown, MA, are Higher Education, Finances, and Health Care. Athenahealth, Target, and Best Buy are three of the top employers in Watertown. If you’re looking for a High Education job, Harvard is a big employer nearby.
The average salary in Watertown is $83,000, and the average hourly rate is $25.10, according to Payscale.
If you plan on moving without a job, no worries because there are 123,544 jobs available on Indeed within a 25-mile radius, and there are plenty of Watertown government jobs available.
Watertown Schools
Watertown is part of the Watertown Public School District. While there are not many schools in the district, they are known for providing above average academics. The schools available within the district are Cunniff Elementary School, Hosmer Elementary School, J.R. Lowell Elementary School, Watertown Middle School, and Watertown High School.
If you’re interested in attending college after High School, a few of the top nearby universities include: Bunker Hill Community College, Bentley University, Harvard University, Lasell University, Northeastern University, and Boston University.
The local public library is the Watertown Free Public Library.
Watertown Statistics & Information
- Watertown County: Middlesex
- Watertown Area: 4 square miles
- Watertown Zip Codes: 02472
- Watertown Area Codes: 617 and 857
- Watertown Elevation: 36 feet
- Watertown Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- The Closest Airport: The closest airport to Watertown is the Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) which is 11 miles away
Map of Watertown, MA
Explore more amenities, restaurants, places to visit, and shops with this map of Watertown, MA!
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