Living in Watertown
Watertown sits on the Charles River just west of Boston, bordered by Cambridge, Belmont, Waltham, Newton and the Brighton neighborhood of Boston. Settled and incorporated in 1630, it is one of the oldest communities in Massachusetts. In 1632 its residents protested a tax for a fort in Cambridge, an early American stand against taxation without representation. Today it has a city form of government with a city manager.
The city is made up of several neighborhoods, including Watertown Square, Coolidge Square, East Watertown, Bemis, Brigham and the West End. The former Watertown Arsenal, which made military equipment from 1816 to 1995, is now a center for shopping, dining and the arts.
Homes you will find
- Single-family homes, with capes and Victorians among the most common styles
- Garden-style condo complexes and townhouses, some with views of the Charles River
- Loft-style condos near the river
- Newer apartment and mixed-use buildings, including the Arsenal Yards development
Getting around
Watertown is served by several MBTA bus routes, most of which pass through or end at Watertown Square or Watertown Yard. Route 57 runs from Watertown Yard to Kenmore in Boston, following the path of the old Green Line branch that served Watertown until 1969. Drivers have quick access to the Massachusetts Turnpike and Soldiers Field Road into downtown Boston.
Parks, the river and everyday life
The Charles River shapes much of Watertown. The Charles River Bike Path, also called the Charles River Greenway, runs along the water, along with the Watertown Community Bike Path and the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway. The Watertown Riverfront Park and Braille Trail is a short loop by the river, designed with guide wires and Braille and English markers, and open to everyone. Arsenal Park was renovated in 2025 with more room for recreation, and Mount Auburn Cemetery, founded in 1831, is the city’s largest open space.
On Arsenal Street, Arsenal Yards and Watertown Mall face each other with shops and restaurants, and the Mosesian Center for the Arts opened nearby in 2005. The Armenian Library and Museum of America is on Main Street, and the Watertown Free Public Library recently finished a renovation and expansion. Watertown runs its own public school system, and families can contact Watertown Public Schools directly for school information.
Who Watertown suits
Watertown is a good fit for buyers who want to be close to Cambridge and Boston without a long drive, condo buyers who want river views or newer buildings, and anyone who walks, runs or bikes along the Charles.
Thinking about Watertown? Ask Suad about recent sales and what is on the market now, in English, Spanish (with Diana) or Bosnian.
