Belmont, MA 02478
Belmont Real Estate
Belmont Center, Cushing and Waverley Squares, Belmont Hill and two commuter rail stops
Updated
- ZIP codes
- 02478
- Getting around
- Fitchburg Line commuter rail at Belmont (in Belmont Center) and Waverley; MBTA bus 73 from Waverley Square and bus 75 from Belmont Center to Harvard Square
- Typical homes
- Colonial, Victorian and Tudor-style single-families, many two-family houses, and condos in converted two-families
Belmont was carved out of Watertown, Waltham and West Cambridge (now Arlington) in 1859 and named for Bellmont, the 200-acre estate of John Perkins Cushing, who was the largest donor to its founding. The town covers about 4.7 square miles west of Cambridge and still uses the motto "The Town of Homes," which fits a place that is almost entirely residential, with small commercial centers and a lot of open land along its western edge.
Three squares handle most errands. Belmont Center lines a short stretch of Leonard Street beside its train station. Cushing Square sits where Common Street meets Trapelo Road, and Waverley Square gathers around Trapelo Road and Lexington Street above the Waverley station. On the west side, Beaver Brook Reservation, Mass Audubon's Habitat Education Center, and Rock Meadow conservation land form a long green belt, and Clay Pit Pond fills an old brickyard near the high school.
Belmont is one of the closer-in towns with its own commuter rail stops. According to the Fitchburg Line schedule, trains from Waverley reach North Station in about 20 minutes and stop at Porter on the way, where you can switch to the Red Line. That makes a walk to either station a real factor when comparing homes.
Living in Belmont
What makes Belmont special
Belmont Center
Leonard Street's brick and clapboard storefronts, the town offices and the Belmont Center commuter rail station sit within a few minutes' walk of each other.
Beaver Brook Reservation
Established in 1893 as the first reservation in the Metropolitan Park System, it now spans about 300 acres across Belmont and Waltham.
Habitat Education Center
Mass Audubon's sanctuary off Juniper Road has more than three miles of trails and links to the Western Greenway toward Waltham.
Commuter rail stops
Belmont Center and Waverley stations on the Fitchburg Line connect to Porter Square and North Station without a transfer.
Neighborhood squares
Cushing Square and Waverley Square each have their own shops, cafés and bus service along Trapelo Road.
The Market
Belmont homes & real estate
Belmont's homes run from large Colonial Revival, Tudor-style and shingle houses on the winding streets of Belmont Hill to Victorian and early 20th century Colonials around Belmont Center, Payson Park and the Winn Brook area. The southern and eastern parts of town, near Trapelo Road, Belmont Street and the Cambridge and Watertown lines, have many two-family houses, a good number of which have been converted into side-by-side or up-down condos. Apartment and condo buildings are few and mostly near the squares.
With so many two-families, buyers should check whether a property is set up as a whole house, a pair of condos or an owner unit with a rental, since each comes with different paperwork and costs. Lot size, garage space and the condition of older mechanical systems are recurring questions in a town where much of the housing predates World War II. Proximity to Belmont Center or Waverley station is worth weighing too. For a clear look at what Belmont homes are selling for right now, contact us and we'll put the latest figures in front of you.
Helpful guides: First-time buyer guideHow offers work in MassachusettsMortgage options by property typeSelling a house in Massachusetts
Compare: Arlington vs. Belmont
Getting around: Commuter rail towns
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What ZIP code covers Belmont?
Belmont is covered by a single ZIP code, 02478.
How do you get to downtown Boston from Belmont?
The Fitchburg Line commuter rail stops at Waverley and Belmont Center and runs to North Station, with a stop at Porter Square for the Red Line. The 73 and 75 buses run to Harvard Square, and drivers typically use Route 2, Concord Avenue or Fresh Pond Parkway.
What types of homes are for sale in Belmont?
Belmont listings are mostly single-family homes, from Victorians and Colonials to larger houses on Belmont Hill, along with two-family houses and two-unit condos in the parts of town closer to Cambridge and Watertown.
What is Belmont known for?
Belmont is known as "The Town of Homes," with its three village squares, two commuter rail stations and open land such as Beaver Brook Reservation and Mass Audubon's Habitat sanctuary.
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Home value
Belmont home values
What could your Belmont home sell for? A free, personalized estimate.
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Arlington
Spy Pond, the Minuteman Bikeway and three business districts strung along Mass Ave
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Watertown
Watertown Square on the Charles, the old Arsenal grounds and Mount Auburn Street
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Cambridge
Harvard, Central and Kendall Squares, Brattle Street houses and a Red Line spine
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Waltham
The Watch City's Moody Street, a Charles River riverwalk and two Fitchburg Line stations
Read moreComparison
Arlington vs. Belmont
Arlington and Belmont are neighboring towns west of Cambridge, each with its own tax rate, town services and school district. Neither has a subway station; Arlington relies on buses and the Minuteman Bikeway to Alewife, while Belmont has two Fitchburg Line commuter rail stops.
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