8.3 out of 10

Watertown

42.3683278884047 -71.1808042691918
Great for
  • Shopping Options
  • Public Transport
  • Safe & Sound
  • Resale or Rental Value
  • Medical Facilities
Not great for
  • Pest Free
  • Lack of Traffic
  • Childcare
  • Schools
  • Clean & Green
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Trendy & Stylish

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+
Editors Choice

"Not a Bad Town"

I have lived in Watertown all my life. The town has changed quite a bit in the past 20 year some for the good and some for the bad. When I was young it was a town filled with blue collar workers who worked hard and took care of the family. It has since then been converted to a town with more professional workers many from Cambridge and from the local universities. There is more of a liberal feel then in the past .There are still many Townies who take great pride in the town and talk about the good old days. There have also been many positive changes. With the added incomes the tax base has increased and there has been some nice added amenities like the New Library and the New Police Station. The Police force does a good job and the Town workers do a good job taking care of the town. The east end has a great Ethnic feel to it with middle Eastern food and Greek Restaurants. Watertown is connected to the Mass Pike , Storrow Drive and also Memorial Drive which makes it very accessible to Boston .
Pros
  • Close To Boston, Good parks, Jogging Trails ,
  • Nice Resturants , Small town feel
Cons
  • Houses close to each other, Small yards, traffic
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
2yrs+

"The perfect mix of small-town-feel and big-city-opportunities"

There is a lot to love about Watertown. It is a great place to live if you work in or around Boston. It has the vibe of a small town, but it is still very connected with Boston. There are several buses that come to Watertown Square and Watertown Yard, easily connecting you with Cambridge, Allston, Brighton, and downtown Boston. Watertown is also a very walkable town; there are tons of parks and the Charles River Path is great. The area is definitely family friendly, but as a young person (in my 20s) I don't feel like an outsider either.

I live near Watertown Square, and in my opinion, this is the best neighborhood in Watertown. Everything you need is a five to ten minute walk--seriously. The public library (which is awesome), the post office, the town hall, convenience stores/pharmacies, buses, the clinic, coffee shops, etc. Target and the Arsenal Mall (which are across the street from each other) are a very short drive or bus ride away. There are tons of great restaurants to choose from. I have my favorites, but there always seems to be somewhere new to try. The one major downside for me is that I feel there are no good bars here. There are a couple of dive bars, but they're pretty "meh". The best bar experience around here is inside of a restaurant like Not Your Average Joe's or something. Not a huge con, but something worth mentioning if you're looking for nightlife. There are a couple of places offering trivia nights now though, which I am so happy about--I think it really adds a lot to the area.

Overall, this is a place I could see myself coming back to again. I've lived here for three years, and I am looking to move mainly just to go somewhere new, and because I'm tired of New England winters. But that's not Watertown's fault. It really is a nice place to live with a good mix of people, things to do, and great location.
Pros
  • Close To Boston, Good parks, Jogging Trails ,
  • Nice Resturants , Small town feel
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
2yrs+

"Small Town with Big City Convenience"

Watertown is a great small town where everyone knows your name, but has great access by car and public transportation to the conveniences of Boston and Cambridge. In its four square miles, Watertown has the Arsenal Mall and Watertown Mall - which house big name stores like Best Buy, Home Depot and Target.

The Charles River winds through downtown Watertown Square with walking and bike trails lining its banks. With a great sense of diversity, Watertown also houses a great variety of restaurants with cuisine from all over the world.

As a biased life-time resident, I'd recommend it as more than a pass through to your next destination. Stop in, have a nice dinner at a local restaurant and tour some of the history of a great Boston suburb.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

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