Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertown is a city of 35,543 people in Massachusetts, founded in 1630.
Why visit Watertown
Townapedia lists 106 museums and landmarks, 100 parks and trails, 227 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 14 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Mosesian Center for the Arts, Studio Cinema, Armenian Museum of America and Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 19°F.
Weather in Watertown
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Watertown
Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, part of Greater Boston. The population was 35,329 in the 2020 census. Its neighborhoods include Bemis, Coolidge Square, East Watertown, Watertown Square, and the West End.
From the Wikipedia article Watertown, Massachusetts (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do14
2 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks106
Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds
Museum · 1.6 mi
286 Waverley Avenue, Newton
We,Fr 11:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-17:00
East Parish Burying Ground
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Cemetery in Newton, Massachusetts
Aaron Martin House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Aaron Martin Houses
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Adams Claflin House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
American Waltham Watch Company Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic district in Waltham, Massachusetts
Amos Adams House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
House in Newton, Massachusetts
Beaconsfield Terraces Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Benjamin F. Clough House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic house in Massachusetts, United States
Benjamin White House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Beth Eden Baptist Church
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Church building in Waltham, Massachusetts
94 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds100
John A. Ryan Skating Arena
Sports field and stadium · 1.6 mi
1 Paramount Place, Watertown
88 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes227
Deluxe Town Diner
Restaurant · Diner · 1.0 mi
627 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown
Mo-Su 08:00-20:00
Ariana Restaurant
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 2.1 mi
384 Western Avenue
Mo-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-23:00
Banh Mi Cafe
Restaurant · Vietnamese · 0.5 mi
102 Main Street, Watertown
Mo-Sa 10:00-18:00, Su 10:00-17:00
Cafe Lava and Bento
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Breakfast · 2.0 mi
298 Washington Street, Brighton
Mo-Su 08:00-19:00
Chayen Thai Cookery
Restaurant · Thai · 1.0 mi
620 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown
Mo off; Tu,We 11:30-15:00,16:00-21:00; Th 11:30-15:00,16:00-21:30;...
Comella's
Restaurant · Italian · 2.0 mi
11 Brighton Street, Belmont
Su-Tu 11:30-20:00; We-Sa 11:30-21:00
Crazy Dough's
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.1 mi
2201 Commonwealth Avenue
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00
George Howell
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.0 mi
311 Walnut Street, Newtonville
Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 08:00-15:30
215 more on the map.
History
Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before colonization. At the time of the earliest European reports in the 1600s, there were at least two important settlements of Massachusett people along the river later known as the Charles: Nonantum in present-day Newton, and Pequossette or Peguusset, "where the narrows open out" near modern-day Watertown Square. A contemporary English source lists "Pigsgusset" as the native name of "Water towne." Massachusett people built a fishing weir at Pequossette to trap herring at the site of the current Watertown Dam. The annual fish migration, as both alewife and blueback herring swim upstream from their adult home in the sea to spawn in the fresh water where they were hatched, still occurs every spring.
Watertown, first known to settlers as Saltonstall Plantation, was one of the earliest of the Massachusetts Bay Colony settlements. Founded in early 1630 by a group of settlers led by Richard Saltonstall and George Phillips, it was officially incorporated that same year. The alternate spelling "Waterton" is seen in some early documents.
From the History section of Watertown, Massachusetts on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship47
Saint James Armenian Apostolic Church
Church · Armenian Apostolic · 0.7 mi
465 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown
Saint Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church
Church · Armenian Apostolic · 1.0 mi
39 Bigelow Avenue, Watertown
Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 1.0 mi
198;200 Lexington Street
Shopping30
Gas and EV charging22
Schools, colleges and libraries117
Healthcare11
Rosen's Belmont Medical Supply
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.1 mi
185 Belmont Street, Belmont
Map of Watertown
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 19°F | 3.9 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 21°F | 3.6 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 28°F | 4.5 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 4.3 in |
| May | 69°F | 48°F | 3.6 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 4.2 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 3.5 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 3.7 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 4.0 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 43°F | 5.0 in |
| Nov | 53°F | 34°F | 4.0 in |
| Dec | 42°F | 26°F | 5.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Jamaica Plain (5 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.
Getting there and nearby towns
Boston Harbor Seaplane Base (Cape Air Seaplanes) (BNH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.
- Belmont 2 mi north, about 3 min by car
- Cambridge 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- Newton 3 mi southwest, about 5 min by car
- Arlington 3 mi north, about 6 min by car
- Brookline 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- Somerville 4 mi east, about 7 min by car
- Medford 5 mi northeast, about 8 min by car
- Lexington 6 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Everett 7 mi east, about 11 min by car
- Needham 7 mi southwest, about 11 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
- 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
- Main Street Watertown MA 2, IFCAR, Public domain
- WatertownMA CommonStreetCemetery3, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WatertownMA CommonStreetCemetery2, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WatertownMA CommonStreetCemetery4, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WatertownMA CommonStreetCemetery1, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Watertown Free Public Library, Elizabeth B. Thomsen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Starbucks Watertown (51398977309), Todd Van Hoosear, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Watertown Branch ROW from Patten Street, July 2015, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MBTA route 71 XE40 bus in Watertown May 2026, 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0
- MBTA route 71 XE40 bus in Watertown May 2026 0, 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0
- MBTA route 71 XE40 bus in Watertown May 2026 (cropped), 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0
- East Parish Burying Ground, Newton, Massachusetts, Thomas Kelley from Boston, MA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- NewtonMA SudburyAqueductReservoirGateHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- NewtonMA HouseAt230MelroseStreet, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WalthamMA CharlesBakerProperty, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- NewtonMA HouseAt102StanifordStreet, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BrooklineMA TimothyCoreyHouseNumberOne, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- NewtonMA HammondStreet ChestnutHillHD, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BrooklineMA NorfolkStreet ChestnutHillHD, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WalthamMA FullerBemisHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BrooklineMA EbenezerHeathHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Evergreen Cemetery Boston MA 01, Jameslwoodward, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Waltham MA Wetherbee House, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BrooklineMA HouseAt12-16CoreyRoad, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Waltham MA Lenoir Dow House, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- House at 155 Reservoir, Brookline MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- Prescott Estate, Newton, Massachusetts, Thomas Kelley from Boston, MA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Waltham MA Benjamin F Clough House, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Waltham MA Gilbert Colburn House, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BrooklineMA FisherHillHD, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dupee Estate - Mary Baker Eddy Home, Newton, Massachusetts, Thomas Kelley, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Harrington Block, 376-390 Moody St., Waltham, Mass., Joel Bradshaw, CC0
- House at 83 Penniman Place, Physicistjedi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- NewtonMA 107WabanHillRoad, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WalthamMA CharlesBakerHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- NewtonMA 173-175WardStreet, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BrooklineMA TimothyCoreyHouseNumberTwo, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WalthamMA RobertMurrayHouse, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- NewtonMA MonadnockRoadHD, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- NewtonMA 41MiddlesexRoad, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
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