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Living in
Watertown.
About
Life in Watertown
Living in Watertown means being embedded in the Boston metro area with all the economic opportunities that brings, though you'll pay for proximity—median home values sit around $784,600 and rent averages $2,502 monthly. The job market is solid with 4.1% unemployment, and your commute to Boston's major employers typically runs about 26 minutes, which is reasonable for the region. The community is notably diverse with a substantial Asian population, and you'll find a genuinely educated neighborhood where nearly 67% hold college degrees.
Watertown at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Foreign-Born
25.7%
Broadband Internet
95.1%
of households
Population Growth
+1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.7% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Watertown: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Watertown, the largest foreign-born group is from India (10.6%), and 13.9% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
14.3%
of residents
65 and Older
18.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.1%
of households
Married Couples
40.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.15
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 42% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Watertown
In Watertown, rent runs 42% above the MA average, and home values are 40% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,799
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
47.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1947
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.9%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Watertown
Unemployment in Middlesex County, which includes Watertown, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Watertown: Middlesex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Middlesex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Watertown is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Watertown Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.6 min avg
How Watertown residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Watertown, most residents drive alone to work (50%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 59% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Watertown runs 59% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
136.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,614.1
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Watertown Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Watertown, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,400 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,700 |
| 2023 | 29 | Flood | $99,100 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Strong Wind | $583,500 |
| 2020 | 52 | Strong Wind | $552,300 |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $263,750 |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $526,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Watertown is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Watertown, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Watertown is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Watertown has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.3"
Annual Snowfall
49.2"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 19°F | 3.87" |
| Feb | 40°F | 21°F | 3.59" |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 4.49" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 4.32" |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 3.64" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 4.18" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 3.49" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 3.72" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.96" |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 5.03" |
| Nov | 53°F | 34°F | 3.99" |
| Dec | 42°F | 26°F | 5.08" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Watertown
Uninsured
1.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Watertown's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mclean Hospital Corporation
Psychiatric · 2 mi away · Belmont
Boston Medical Center-brighton
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · Brighton
Franciscan Children's Hospital & Rehab Center
Childrens · 2.2 mi away · Brighton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Watertown
Watertown's student/teacher ratio is 10.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 66.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
66.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Watertown (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
8.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Watertown
Watertown has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
3 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
3 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
4 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
6 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
6 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
11 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayPublic Libraries in Watertown
Watertown Free Public Library
123 Main St., Watertown
Cities Near Watertown
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Watertown?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Watertown FAQ
Is Watertown, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Watertown's median rent is $2,502/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $126,265/year. Median home value is $784,600.
Is Watertown, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Watertown's violent crime rate was 137 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1614 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Watertown, Massachusetts?⌄
Middlesex County, which includes Watertown, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Watertown, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Watertown is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,502/month and median household income is $126,265/year. The median home value is $784,600. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Watertown, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Watertown is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from