Watertown, MA 02472
Watertown Real Estate
Watertown Square on the Charles, the old Arsenal grounds and Mount Auburn Street
Updated
- ZIP codes
- 02472
- Getting around
- MBTA buses 71 and 73 to Harvard Square, 57 to Kenmore, and 70 along Arsenal Street; no subway station in town
- Typical homes
- Two-family houses, Colonial and Victorian single-families, and newer condo and apartment buildings around Arsenal Yards and Pleasant Street
Founded by Puritan settlers in 1630, Watertown is one of the oldest settlements of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and in 1632 its residents lodged what is often called the first protest in America against taxation without representation. The town grew where the Charles River meets the head of tide at Watertown Square. For nearly 180 years, from 1816 to 1995, the federal Watertown Arsenal occupied a long stretch of the riverbank in the East End.
Watertown Square is still the hub, where Main Street, Mount Auburn Street, Galen Street and Arsenal Street meet and most bus routes start or pass through. Mount Auburn Street runs east through Coolidge Square toward Cambridge. Along the river, paths on both banks connect Watertown Riverfront Park to Cambridge and Newton, and the Perkins School for the Blind occupies a historic campus on North Beacon Street. The former Arsenal grounds now hold Arsenal Park, Arsenal Yards and the Mosesian Center for the Arts.
Watertown has no subway or commuter rail station, so the bus network matters when choosing a home. The 71 runs from Watertown Square to Harvard Square, the 57 heads to Kenmore through Brighton, and the 73 serves the Belmont Street side of town on its way to Harvard.
Where Watertown is
Living in Watertown
What makes Watertown special
Watertown Square
The historic center at the Charles River crossing, where Main, Mount Auburn, Galen and Arsenal Streets converge with the town's main bus routes.
Arsenal Yards
Shops, restaurants, offices and housing now fill buildings on part of the former Watertown Arsenal along Arsenal Street in the East End.
Mosesian Center for the Arts
An 1894 Arsenal manufacturing building turned arts center, with a main stage theater, a black box space and galleries beside Arsenal Park.
Charles River paths
Riverside paths run from Watertown Riverfront Park downstream toward Cambridge and Boston and upstream toward Newton and Waltham.
Mount Auburn Cemetery
The 1831 garden cemetery, partly within Watertown, is a landscaped arboretum with walking routes and a hilltop tower.
The Market
Watertown homes & real estate
Much of Watertown was built out in the early 20th century, and the two-family house is everywhere, often a stacked up-down layout, alongside single-family Colonials, Victorians and smaller Capes. Some of the larger single-families sit on the streets around Oakley Country Club and on the higher ground near the Belmont line. Recent construction is concentrated in the East End and along Pleasant Street and Arsenal Street, where former industrial and commercial sites have become apartment, condo and lab buildings, including Arsenal Yards.
Two-families here are bought as whole buildings, as condos, or as an owner unit plus a rental, and buyers should confirm which arrangement the paperwork actually supports. Without a subway stop, distance to Watertown Square or a frequent bus line counts for a lot, as does off-street parking. Properties close to the Charles are worth checking against flood maps. To see how recent Watertown sales compare with what you have in mind, drop us a line and we'll prepare a current snapshot.
Helpful guides: First-time buyer guideHow offers work in MassachusettsMortgage options by property typeSelling a house in Massachusetts
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What ZIP code covers Watertown?
Watertown homes use ZIP code 02472. A separate ZIP, 02471, is used for post office boxes.
How do you get to downtown Boston from Watertown?
There is no subway in town, so most people take a bus to a rapid transit connection, such as the 71 or 73 to Harvard Square for the Red Line or the 57 to Kenmore for the Green Line. Drivers use the Massachusetts Turnpike or Soldiers Field Road.
What types of homes are for sale in Watertown?
Watertown has many two-family houses and two-unit condos, single-family Colonials and Victorians, and condos and apartments in newer buildings in the East End and along Pleasant Street.
What is Watertown known for?
Watertown is known for its 1630 founding, Watertown Square on the Charles River, the former Watertown Arsenal now redeveloped as Arsenal Yards and Arsenal Park, and the Perkins School for the Blind.
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