Watertown, MA Real Estate: Town Guide, Prices & Homes for Sale

Watertown at a glance

Median single-family: $1,160,000; ▲ 13.2% vs. last year
Median condo: $725,000; ▼ 9.1% vs. last year
Days on market: 28; single-family, year to date
Sale vs. original list: 101.8%; single-family, year to date
Residential tax rate: $12.20; per $1,000, FY2026
Population: 35,985; 2024 Census estimate, +1.8% since 2020
To Boston: 6 mi; straight line to City Hall
MBTA rail & ferry: No MBTA rail station in town

Watertown market · September 2026 year to date

The numbers, before the opinions.

Watertown single-family and condo market, September 2026 year to date
Measure	Single-family	Condo
Median sale price	$1,160,000	$725,000
Change vs. last year	▲ 13.2%	▼ 9.1%
Sales closed	39	176
Median days on market	28	40
Sale price vs. original list	101.8%	98.8%
For sale at month end	19	56
Months of supply	4.2	2.9

Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Watertown Local Market Update (PDF, opens in a new tab) (MLS PIN data). Year-to-date figures except homes for sale and months of supply, which are for the latest month. A town median is a starting point; the right price is street by street.

What the numbers mean

Buying or selling in Watertown?

By the usual rule of thumb (under about four months of supply favors sellers, over six favors buyers), the Watertown single-family market was close to balanced, with 4.2 months of supply in the latest MAR report and homes selling for 101.8% of original list price on average. Individual streets, price ranges and property types can behave very differently.

Single-family homes in Watertown have sold for 101.8% of their original list price on average this year. Well-priced homes are drawing full price or better, so the opening price matters more than room to negotiate.
The median single-family home took about 28 days to sell. Plan your next move around that, plus about 30 to 60 days to close.

Get a home valuation in Watertown · How I sell homes

Expect competition on the best homes in Watertown: the average single-family sold at 101.8% of original list. Have your pre-approval, inspection plan and walk-away number ready before you tour.
With a median of about 28 days on market, you'll usually have time for a second showing, but not forever.
Condos in Watertown had a median of $725,000 versus $1,160,000 for single-families. If the single-family budget is a stretch, a condo or a two-family can be a way in.

Watertown homes for sale · How I help buyers

Side by side · September 2026 year to date

How does Watertown compare with nearby towns?

Watertown compared with the nearest towns I cover
Town	Median single-family	Median condo	Days on market	Tax rate (FY2026)
Watertown	$1,160,000 ▲ 13.2%	$725,000	28	$12.20
Belmont	$1,600,000 ▼ 11.1%	$925,000	34	$11.51
Newton	$1,880,000 ▼ 3.8%	$1,090,000	40	$9.69
Waltham	$870,000 ▼ 3.3%	$697,500	37	$10.32
Arlington	$1,347,500 ▲ 7.8%	$910,000	26	$10.67
Brookline	$2,525,000 ▼ 8.2%	$1,037,500	62	$10.24

Year-to-date medians from each town's MAR Local Market Update; tax rates per $1,000 from the Mass. Division of Local Services. Nearby = closest town centers among the towns I cover.

Town guide

What it's like to live in Watertown.

What is it like to live in Watertown?

Watertown sits on the Charles River just west of Cambridge. It's compact and busy, with Watertown Square at its center, the Arsenal Yards development in East Watertown, and a growing number of life-science and office employers. The Charles River paths connect it to Cambridge and Newton.

What are Watertown's neighborhoods like?

A quick orientation, not a ranking:

Area	What it's like	Worth a look if you want
Watertown Square	The historic center on the river	Walking to shops and buses
East Watertown and Arsenal Street	Arsenal Yards, newer apartments and condos	Newer construction and amenities
Coolidge Square	Mount Auburn Street shops near the Cambridge line	Proximity to Cambridge
The West End and Bemis	Residential streets toward Waltham	A quieter residential feel

What does housing look like in Watertown?

Lots of two-families and condos (many in converted two-families), plus single-family colonials and newer condo and apartment buildings near Arsenal Street and Pleasant Street.

How is the commute from Watertown to Boston?

Watertown has no rail station, but frequent buses connect Watertown Square and the Mount Auburn Street corridor to Harvard Square and downtown. The Mass Pike and Route 20 are nearby.

Where do people spend time in Watertown?

The Charles River paths
Arsenal Yards
The Armenian Museum of America
Mount Auburn Street restaurants

What should buyers and sellers know about Watertown?

Competitive market: low supply and homes selling around or above list.
Two-family condos: review association documents and shared-repair plans.
Commute by bus: test the ride at the time you'd actually travel.

For public school information, see the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's school and district profiles (Watertown Public Schools).

Questions people actually ask.

Does Watertown have a T station?

No rail station, but several bus routes connect to Harvard and downtown Boston.

Are there new condos in Watertown?

Yes. Newer buildings are concentrated around Arsenal Street and Pleasant Street.

Mortgage rates · week of October 15, 2026

What today's rate means for your payment in Watertown.

The average 30-year fixed rate this week is 7.40%. On Watertown's median single-family price of $1,160,000 with 20% down (a $928,000 loan), here's the monthly principal and interest, and how much a rate move changes it.

Monthly principal and interest on a $928,000 30-year loan in Watertown at different rates
Scenario	30-year rate	Principal & interest	vs. this week
A year ago	6.27%	$5,730/mo	−$700/mo
This week	7.40%	$6,430/mo
If rates rise half a point	7.90%	$6,740/mo	+$320/mo
If rates fall half a point	6.90%	$6,110/mo	−$310/mo
If rates fall a full point	6.40%	$5,800/mo	−$620/mo

Rate source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (opens in a new tab), national weekly average. Principal and interest only; taxes, insurance and any condo fees are extra (use the calculator below). Your actual rate depends on your credit, loan type and points. Ask a lender for a quote, or ask me for an introduction.

Monthly cost calculator

What would a Watertown home cost per month?

Pre-filled with Watertown's median single-family price, its FY2026 tax rate and this week's average 30-year mortgage rate. Change anything. This is an estimate for planning, not a loan quote.

How I help in Watertown

Three ways to start.

Buy in Watertown

What homes here actually sell for, what they cost to own, and an offer strategy you can defend.

Buying with Xavier

Sell in Watertown

A price grounded in Watertown sales, a plan for what to fix, and a clear read on every offer.

Get a home valuation

Invest in Watertown

Two- and three-families run as numbers: rents, expenses, financing, and condition.

Multifamily & investing

Quick answers about Watertown.

What is the median home price in Watertown, MA?

The median single-family sale price in Watertown was $1,160,000 for September 2026 year to date, compared with $1,025,000 for the same period a year earlier. The median condo sold for $725,000. Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MLS PIN data).

How fast are homes selling in Watertown?

Single-family homes that sold in Watertown during September 2026 year to date spent a median of about 28 days on market and sold for 101.8% of their original list price on average, according to MAR.

What is the property tax rate in Watertown, MA?

Watertown's FY2026 residential property tax rate is $12.20 per $1,000 of assessed value (Massachusetts Division of Local Services). On a home assessed at the median single-family sale price, that's roughly $14,150 a year; your actual bill depends on the assessed value.

Is it a buyer's or seller's market in Watertown, MA?

By the usual rule of thumb (under about four months of supply favors sellers, over six favors buyers), the Watertown single-family market was close to balanced, with 4.2 months of supply in the latest MAR report and homes selling for 101.8% of original list price on average. Individual streets, price ranges and property types can behave very differently.

Is there a train from Watertown to Boston?

There's no MBTA rail station in Watertown. It's about 6 miles from Boston in a straight line; most residents drive or use a station in a nearby town.

Buying or selling here?

Interested in Watertown?

Tell me what you're weighing: a street, a price range, a timeline. I'll send the recent sales that matter and what I'd watch for in Watertown specifically.

Talk with Xavier Text (978) 539-9512 Email me

More Greater Boston towns

Sources: market figures, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Local Market Update (data: MLS PIN; © ShowingTime Plus); tax rate, Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Municipal Databank, Tax Rates by Class; population, U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates for cities and towns; stations, MBTA (V3 API); distance, OpenStreetMap Nominatim (town center); miles are straight-line to Boston City Hall. Numbers retrieved 2026-10-21.

Living in Watertown, MA.