Want to Live in Watertown? Discover Why Watertown is One of the Best Places to Live Outside of Boston

Tucked just a few miles west of downtown Boston, Watertown hugs the Charles River and borders Cambridge, Belmont, Newton, and Waltham, so grabbing dinner in Harvard Square or catching a concert in Brighton is a quick hop.

Off-peak, the Mass Pike funnels you downtown in about 15 minutes, and MBTA bus lines 70, 71, and 73 fan out from Watertown Square toward Cambridge and Belmont, making the daily commute feel refreshingly painless, especially if you snag an express seat on the 504 during rush hour. 

Watertown’s colonial roots run deep: Puritan settlers arrived in 1630, carving out one of the very first Massachusetts Bay Colony communities. Their early tax protest in 1632 is often cited as a spark for representative government in the State of Massachusetts.

Mill sites along the Charles boomed through the 19th century, and the former U.S. Army Arsenal (now Arsenal Yards) once forged cannon barrels that shipped worldwide. 

Today, you’ll still spot Victorian triples, brick factory lofts, and leafy streets that feel downright suburban, yet you can sip third-wave coffee, bike the river path, and be in Cambridge for brunch before the latte foam settles.

Locals rave about the town’s green space along the Charles River, neighborhood parks and playgrounds, and the Armenian bakeries that perfume Mount Auburn Street.

It’s a place to live without giving up a late-night taco run in Allston or a quick dash to Logan.

House-hunters find a tight market dominated by renovated single-family colonials and sleek town-home conversions.

As of May 2025, the median sale price hit $1.04 million, up 7.8 percent year-over-year, according to Redfin. That figure outpaces the Greater Boston average but still undercuts nearby Cambridge’s eye-watering condo tags. 

Buyers scrolling homes for sale in Watertown, MA, will notice inventory moves fast (median 15 days on market), so lining up financing early is key.

East Watertown brims with classic triple-deckers and an international food scene stretching toward Cambridge.

Watertown Square anchors the town, mixing historic storefronts with new apartments steps from the MBTA bus hub. Out west, the West End shows off larger yards, front porches, and that “quiet neighbourhood feel” reviewers praise on Niche.

Whichever pocket you pick, expect quick proximity to Arsenal Yards for errands and a breezy ride to Newton, Belmont, or Waltham for weekend soccer.

Watertown’s overall cost-of-living index sits at 144.7 — about 45 percent higher than the national average, driven mostly by housing. 

Utilities, healthcare, and groceries track closer to Boston-area norms and are even lower than the national average in a few categories, so a dual-income household can still live comfortably here.

If you’re moving to Watertown with eyes on a median home budget, plan for a base salary that can absorb a $5K–$6K monthly mortgage while leaving room for Arsenal Yards shopping sprees at Best Buy and Old Navy.

The four-mile Charles River Greenway threads along the Charles River, perfect for a sunrise run or stroller walk to Waltham. 

Over at Filippello Park, you’ll find pick-up hoops, a spray pad, and shaded picnic pavilions, while the freshly reopened Arsenal Park now sports brand-new playgrounds and tree-covered seating. 

Sports fans claim bleacher space at Victory Field on fall Friday nights, cheering the public high school Raiders under the lights.

Once a munitions factory, the 1-million-square-foot Arsenal Yards has morphed into one of Watertown’s biggest shopping centers.

New openings keep rolling: Lebanese chain NAYA, Mighty Squirrel’s taproom, and a Shake Shack just steps from Roche Bros. groceries. 

Grab gear at Best Buy, refresh the kids’ wardrobes at Old Navy, then settle in for pancakes at the retro Deluxe Town Diner or vegan comfort fare at Red Lentil—two good restaurants that define the local food scene. 

For live theatre, gallery shows, and summer concerts, the Mosesian Center for the Arts on Arsenal Street delivers everything from children’s productions to indie film screenings.

A few blocks away, the Armenian Museum of America showcases 25,000 artifacts, reflecting the town’s vibrant Armenian community. 

Seasonal highlights include the Saturday farmers market on Watertown Square, riverfront movie nights, and multicultural festivals that make this family-friendly suburb feel cosmopolitan.

Watertown Public Schools enrolls roughly 2,700 students with favorable class sizes and a brand-new high school campus slated to open in 2026. Teachers earn praise for their support of faculty mindset and robust STEAM electives. 

Private alternatives like Belmont Day or St. Stephen’s Armenian School sit minutes away, giving parents plenty of choice in Middlesex County.

Harvard, MIT, and Boston College lie within a 20-minute T ride, so night classes or a part-time MBA are totally doable.

Community learners pop into Cambridge’s Lesley University or Lexington’s Minuteman Technical for workforce certificates, proving that Watertown is a place to live and raise your resume, not just your kids.

With Cambridge just over the river and downtown Boston eight miles east, plenty of residents bike the river path or car-hop onto Soldiers Field Road for a quick commute.

The MBTA bus network is the town’s workhorse: routes 70 to Waltham, 71 to Harvard Square, and 73 to Belmont all converge at Watertown Square, while express 502/504 coaches zip down the Mass Pike in peak hours.

Sidewalk-lined streets, expanding bike lanes, and that riverside greenway make day-to-day errands car-optional. Coffee shops cluster every few blocks, so caffeine pit stops are never far.

Absolutely. Whether you favor the bus lines, a Bluebikes pedal, or a 12-minute drive to an I-90 on-ramp, Watertown’s proximity to major employers means you spend more evenings grilling in the backyard green space than crawling on I-93.

You get urban energy without downtown prices, strong public schools, riverside parks, and a location that’s near Boston yet tucked into a well-kept suburban grid. This helps keep Watertown crime rates low.

Plus, Arsenal Yards keeps adding attractions, so boredom’s a non-issue.

Housing costs test budgets, parking in the West End can feel tight, and game-day traffic around Victory Field backs up Mount Auburn.

If you crave acreage or absolute quiet, farther-out suburbs like Lincoln may suit you better.

From glowing Watertown reviews on Niche to Boston Magazine’s “Top Places to Live” list, folks gush about the town’s balance of small-town camaraderie and big-city access. 

Whether you’re browsing the latest listing on Redfin, comparing the home price curve, or day-dreaming about riverside picnics, Watertown shines as a place to live that feels right-sized, family-oriented, and undeniably connected to the pulse of Greater Boston.

Ready to start house-hunting? Check today’s homes for sale and see if Watertown fits your plans to live in Watertown and raise a family.

Redfin pegs the May 2025 median home price at roughly $1.04 million. 

Overall costs sit about 45 percent above the U.S. benchmark, mainly due to housing, though some everyday expenses track closer to, or slightly lower than, the national average. 

Bus 71 or 73 runs you to Harvard Square in about 20 minutes outside rush hour. 

Absolutely. From Filippello’s splash pad to Arsenal Park’s brand-new playgrounds, plus riverfront Watertown parks, the town is loaded with family-friendly recreation spots.