Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham is a city of 64,902 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, founded in 1634.
Why visit Waltham
Townapedia lists 113 museums and landmarks, 135 parks and trails, 195 places to eat, 14 places to stay and 23 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include West Newton Cinema, Linden Street Bridge, Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation and Rose Art Museum.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 18°F.
Weather in Waltham
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Waltham
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, and was an early center for the labor movement as well as a major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning, spawning what became known as the Waltham-Lowell system of labor and production. The city is now a center for research and higher education as home to Brandeis University and Bentley University. The population was 65,218 at the 2020 United States census.
From the Wikipedia article Waltham, Massachusetts (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do23
Middlesex University
School · 1.7 mi
University in Massachusetts, United States
11 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks113
Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation
Museum · 1.2 mi
154 Moody Street, Waltham
We-Fr 10:00-15:00; Sa 10:00-14:30
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Jonas Salisbury House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Aaron Martin House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Aaron Martin Houses
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Abel Allen House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
House in Weston, Massachusetts
Adams Claflin House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Allen Crocker Curtis House-Pillar House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic house in Massachusetts, United States
American Waltham Watch Company Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic district in Waltham, Massachusetts
Amos Adams House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
House in Newton, Massachusetts
Bartlett-Hawkes Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
Farm in Massachusetts, United States of America
Benjamin F. Clough House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic house in Massachusetts, United States
101 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds135
John A. Ryan Skating Arena
Sports field and stadium · 2.3 mi
1 Paramount Place, Watertown
123 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes195
Bertucci's
Restaurant · Pizza, Italian · 1.2 mi
475 Winter Street, Waltham
Su-We 11:00-21:30; Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Bistro781
Diner · American · 1.3 mi
336 Moody Street, Waltham
Mo-We 16:00-25:00, Th-Fr 11:00-25:00, Sa-Su 09:00-25:00
Bonchon Chicken
Restaurant · Chicken, Korean, Sushi · 1.3 mi
329 Moody Street, Waltham
Su-Th 11:30-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:30-22:30
Common Good
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Pastry · 1.4 mi
419 Moody Street, Waltham
Mo-Fr 07:00-17:00, Sa 08:00-17:00, Su 08:00-15:00
Copper House Tavern
Restaurant · 1.0 mi
Kitchen closes at 10pm
380 Winter Street, Waltham
Mo-Th 11:30-23:00; Fr 11:30-24:00; Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 11:00-22:00
Dominican Grill
Restaurant · Dominican · 0.9 mi
897 Main Street, Waltham
Mo-Th,Su 10:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-22:00
Enzina Pizzeria
Restaurant · Italian, Italian Pizza · 1.1 mi
1056 Main Street
We-Th 16:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-14:00, 16:00-22:00; Su 11:00-14:00,...
Fin's Sushi and Grill
Restaurant · Japanese · 0.9 mi
922 Main Street
Mo-Th 11:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Grassfield's
Diner · American · 1.2 mi
880 Lexington Street, Waltham
Mo-Th,Su 11:15-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:15-22:00
Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar
Restaurant · Cuban · 1.2 mi
240 Moody Street, Waltham
Su, Tu-Th 05:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-22:00
Hakata Ramen & Sushi
Restaurant · Ramen, Sushi · 0.9 mi
895 Main Street, Waltham
Mo-Th 11:30-15:00, 16:30-21:00; Fr 11:30-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00; Su...
183 more on the map.
History
Waltham was first settled by the English in 1634 as part of Watertown, and was officially incorporated as a separate town in 1738, but the area was inhabited for thousands of years prior to English colonization. At the time of European arrival, Waltham was in a border zone between the territories of the Pawtucket confederation and the Massachusett, with nearby native settlements at Nonantum and Pequosset (Watertown). Early settlers recorded the presence of an "Indian Stockade" near today's Cambridge Reservoir, and an "Indian Hollow" in today's Calvary Cemetery. A native trail through Waltham, the "Old Connecticut Path" saw continued use after colonization and became the basis for present day Route 20.
Waltham is most likely named for Waltham Abbey in the County of Essex, England. The first record of the name is from the articles of incorporation, dated January 15, 1738. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon words, weald or wald "forest" and ham "homestead" or "enclosure." Waltham had no recognizable town center until the 1830s, when the nearby Boston Manufacturing Company gave the town the land that now serves as its central square.
From the History section of Waltham, Massachusetts on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay14
Churches and places of worship41
Beth Eden Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
82 Maple Street
The Second Church in Newton
Church · United Church Of Christ · 3.0 mi
60 Highland Street, West Newton
Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 2.8 mi
198;200 Lexington Street
Shopping34
Gas and EV charging28
Schools, colleges and libraries99
Healthcare17
Map of Waltham
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 18°F | 2.9 in |
| Feb | 39°F | 19°F | 2.7 in |
| Mar | 48°F | 27°F | 3.9 in |
| Apr | 60°F | 37°F | 3.8 in |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 3.4 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 56°F | 3.7 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 62°F | 3.5 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 60°F | 3.5 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 52°F | 3.5 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 41°F | 4.2 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 32°F | 3.7 in |
| Dec | 42°F | 24°F | 3.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bedford Hanscom Fld 74490 (6 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Middlesex County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-09-15: Hurricane Lee (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-07-19: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2015-04-13: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-04-19: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Belmont 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- Lexington 4 mi north, about 6 min by car
- Newton 4 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Arlington 4 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
- Cambridge 6 mi east, about 10 min by car
- Brookline 7 mi southeast, about 11 min by car
- Somerville 7 mi east, about 12 min by car
- Medford 7 mi east, about 12 min by car
- Needham 7 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Burlington 8 mi north, about 13 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Waltham MA Central Square, Tim Pierce, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WalthamMountProspectSchool, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Central Massachusetts Railroad Rail Bed, Waltham, MA (53230706775), Ethan Long, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Agway, Waltham, MA (53230284291), Ethan Long, CC BY-SA 2.0
- MBTA route 556 bus in Waltham Highlands, September 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Waltham North station site, November 2024, Rocketwidget, CC0
- Waltham North station site, May 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Waltham Highlands station (3), May 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MCRT near Summer Avenue, Waltham, September 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wayside Trail construction in Waltham Highlands, September 2022, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Waltham Highlands station and rail trail, September 2024, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Waltham Highlands station, July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Waltham Highlands station (4), May 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gabriel at Prospect Hill Playground, Waltham, Massachusetts, US (PPL1-Corrected) julesvernex2, Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Waltham Highlands station (2), May 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Current Waltham High School (September 2023), Thecounter34256, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Waltham Highlands station (1), May 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The View from Prospect Hill in Waltham, Massachusetts (cropped), Localplaces1222, CC0
- The View from Prospect Hill in Waltham, Massachusetts, Localplaces1222, CC0
- The View from Prospect Hill in Waltham, Massachusetts (cropped2), Localplaces1222, CC0
- Waltham MA Beth Eden Baptist Church, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jonas Salisbury House, Newton, Massachusetts, Thomas Kelley from Boston, MA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Entrance to Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sundial at Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sitting nook at Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Robert Treat Paine Estate Stonehurst, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Central Mass bumper block at Bacon Street, May 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Central Mass ROW near Fiske Street, May 2016, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate Landscape, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate MainHouse with walls, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate sitting area, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate sundial detail, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate SideView, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate MainHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate MainHouse with terrace, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate MainHouse from drive, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate MainHouse rear view, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate house from meadow, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PaineEstate MainEntrance, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
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