About 12 miles west of Boston, Waltham has both big-city amenities and a slow, suburban pace. Also known as The Watch City, the community had an innovative reputation during the Industrial Revolution. Workers here were the first to make wrist watches on an assembly line, and the local Boston Manufacturing Company was the first textile mill to integrate. Now, with two private university campuses at Brandeis and Bentley, the city attracts many students and professors. Other major employers include Thermo Fisher Scientific for biotechnologists, the Boston Children’s Hospital and Waltham’s Mass General Brigham Healthcare Center.
Bostonians will drive or take the commuter rail to experience one of Waltham’s biggest attractions: Moody Street. Brick sidewalks with ornate streetlamps outline the cafes and shops, and the road often gets blocked off on busy summer nights. Along with Main Street, these thoroughfares comprise a lively downtown district, while residential streets have a quieter atmosphere.
Without sacrificing accessibility, the area can feel like an escape from the urban sprawl and activity of surrounding cities. “You’re in a very convenient location,” says Realtor Robin Doherty with Keller Williams Realty Boston Northwest. Doherty has lived in Waltham since 2003 and says, “You can easily zip into Cambridge or Boston for work, and more and more young professionals are starting to come here.”
The city of Waltham is mostly known for it's history and Watch Factory Historical Industry.
You can find a branch of Boston Children's Hospital near Waltham Highlands.
Bank Square is filled with Brandeis University spirit.
Bentley University is a private university in the town of Bentley College.
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Grabbing a bite on Moody and the closest shopping centers
During the summer, select restaurants on Moody Street feature outdoor seating areas that overflow onto their parking lanes and sidewalks. Tables are often surrounded by decorative fencing and plants, with string lights illuminating these makeshift patios after dark. From late-night bars to authentic Asian fusion, each atmosphere is unique, and cuisines come from all over the world. Outside of Moody Street, the Mighty Squirrel Brewing Company has both indoor seating and a large outdoor patio with food trucks and occasional live music. Visitors can bring their dogs and try dozens of brews on tap.
While Moody Street offers a variety of authentic specialty markets, big-box grocers are available at numerous shopping centers throughout town. Major retailers are in neighboring cities at malls like Arsenal Yards in Watertown and The Shops at Chestnut Hill near Boston College.
Stop by for a sweet treat at Lizzy's Homemade in The Lanes.
Deep Ellum in Bentley College offers both interior and exterior seating and great food.
Enjoy some beer with friends after work at Mighty Squirrel in Warrendale.
Residents of Waltham have access to Arsenal Yards in Watertown.
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Getting outdoors and active during all four seasons
From miles of hiking trails at reservations, to playgrounds and splash pads at smaller pocket parks, there are plenty of spots to enjoy nature. The nearly 300-acre Prospect Hill Park has a 3-mile looping trail through the woods, which leads to two tall summits with striking views of Boston’s skyline. The park has a playground, a picnic area with barbeque grills and seasonal amusement park-style rides for kids. The town common rests right outside of the Waltham City Hall for a casual walk, shaded benches and a summer concert series.
While trails are also available at the Storer Conservation, the Beaver Brook North Reservation and other preserves, hikers can enjoy waterfront views from the Charles River Greenway or the Cambridge Reservoir. Fishing and boating are options at Hardy Pond, though gas-powered motors are prohibited.
Youth sports teams, run by independent organizations, are very popular in Waltham. “The expansive turf fields at Veterans Field have hundreds of children playing soccer on any given day of the week,” Doherty says. “It’s a real privilege because most nearby opposing teams have to play on grass fields.” Doherty mentions that the city’s Parks and Recreation department throws affordable summer camps that sell out within minutes.
During the cold Massachusetts winters, residents can still get outside to ice fish and cross-country ski. The Veterans Memorial Skating Rink sits right next to Prospect Hill Park and offers public skating sessions and hosts youth hockey leagues.
Enjoy some time on the rink at Waltham Youth Hockey in The Lanes.
Waltham Town Hall sits in Waltham's Common near Angleside.
Enjoy a stroll through the Storer Reservation near Bentley College.
Play fetch with your fur babies at Prospect Hill Park in Waltham Highlands.
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Community gatherings and the Waltham art and cultural scene
Waltham’s annual events include summer fireworks and Fourth of July celebrations, as well as a Santa parade and lighting of the town common. For fresh produce, residents can attend the Waltham Farmers Market across the street from the Government Center or head to Waltham Fields Community Farm for Picnic Suppers. The city has different opportunities to get active, with classes like Summer Zumba at the Waltham Community and Culture Center and pickleball tournaments at various parks. After a long winter, locals can break out their boogie shoes at Waltham Museum’s Swing Into Spring dance lessons.
The Waltham Mill Artists' Association sponsors many creative activities throughout the city. The Waltham Open Studios annual event welcomes the public to view a collection of local galleries, and 2024 was its 48th anniversary. Rotating contemporary exhibits are also available at the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University. Other displays of ingenuity include the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation. Here visitors can explore some of the city’s oldest inventions and antiques used during the Industrial Revolution.
Get all your vegetable essentials at the Waltham Farmers Market near Bentley College.
You can find a variety of vendors at the Waltham Farmers Market near Bentley College.
The Historic Stonehurst building in Storer Conservation.
Global Thrift Shop in South Side is the new hotspot for clothing.
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Public, private and collegiate education in Waltham
The Waltham Public Schools district earns an overall B grade on Niche. Seven elementary schools and two middle school options feed into the same high school. Waltham High underwent a massive renovation that was completed in 2024. This project received the largest public high school loan in the state’s history. Additions include on-site career technical program facilities, like culinary and nursing labs, as well as a cosmetology studio where student stylists provide haircuts. “On the inside, it feels like a very modern college environment,” Doherty says. “There’s even a parking garage with a soccer field on the roof.” For alternative learning, Waltham Valor High provides education for students from ages 17 to 22.
Private education for seventh through 12th grade at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall scores an A-plus on Niche. The Gann Academy, which also earns an A-plus, is rated the No. 1 Best Jewish School in Massachusetts by Niche and serves students in Grades 9 through 12. More private options for all grades can be found outside of the city in areas like Weston, Watertown and Lexington.
Brandeis and Bentley universities provide higher education within Waltham. Brandeis offers private, liberal arts education and Division III sports. Bentley University is a business-centric private school that relocated from Boston to Waltham in the 1960s.
Henry Elementary School educates young minds with care and dedication in Warrendale.
McDevitt Middle School serves students 6-8 in Bentley College.
Waltham High School in Waltham Massachusetts.
Bentley University is a private university in the town of Bentley College.
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Waltham housing caters to a variety of preferences
The housing market in Waltham has a mix of options, from multi- and single-family homes to condos and townhouses. Common architectural styles include Cape Cods, colonials and New Englanders, and a handful of homes have Victorian and Queen Anne influences. “It’s very important to get a local agent in Waltham because each neighborhood is different,” Doherty says. Some have a more suburban feel than others, like Cedarwood, Warrendale and Lakeview. These areas often feature larger lots and maple trees, towering over the sidewalks. The smallest single-family options can start around $350,000, though most sell in the $600,000s. Newer contemporary builds can reach about $2 million.
Closer to Main and Moody streets in neighborhoods like Bank Square, townhouses, multifamily homes and condos are more common. One- and two-bedroom units can start around $200,000 to $500,000, while luxury spaces can surpass $1.2 million. “Residential property tax is also much lower here than other surrounding cities, and it’s very low for Massachusetts,” Doherty says.
With Brandeis and Bentley universities nearby, many students and faculty members opt to rent. Monthly payments tend to fall between $2,000 for a studio and about $4,000 for a three-bedroom unit.
Homes in North Waltham include large brick colonial homes.
Homes in Roberts have long driveways and garages with extra on street parking.
Homes in Roberts include large colonials with front porches.
Homes in Bentley College range in size and price, but most all offer a private driveway.
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Navigating Waltham and Greater Boston
Interstate 95, Route 20 and Interstate 90 serve as Waltham’s main thoroughfares up and down the East Coast and into Boston. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rails on the Fitchburg Line head to downtown Boston out of Waltham and Brandeis stations. Buses also stop along many of the city’s main streets.
Flights take off from Boston Logan International Airport, about 13 miles away. Travelers can take the commuter rail into Cambridge and then hop on the Red Line toward the airport. Boston Logan provides services to over 100 international and domestic destinations.
Inclement winter weather and Waltham’s crime patterns
Waltham gets about 50 inches of snowfall each year, and ordinances are in place for keeping streets and sidewalks properly plowed. During daylight hours, business owners must remove ice and shovel snow on abutting sidewalks within three hours of a storm. The city clears streets and sidewalks of public buildings. “The plows are out early, and they’re diligent,” Doherty says. “They prioritize the hillier areas, and they’re really good about getting there quickly.”
Waltham has a lower crime rate on average than Boston and the U.S. According to the FBI, as of 2023, the city had a rate of 83.08 incidents per 100,000 residents, while Boston saw 193.99 and the U.S., 120.98.
I am a Broker/Realtor at Torii Homes, servicing Massachusetts and New Hampshire. My goal is to make buying, selling, and renting an understandable and transparent process. The pillars of my approach are listening, communicating directly and often, and exuding good energy with a balanced temperment. This has led me to gaining the trust of over 250 clients since I entered real estate in 2015.
My enthusiasm for my job comes from the people I get to interact with and the longstanding relationships that are created. I look to build community wherever I go, introducing clients to others who live in the area, vendors, restaurants and anything else that fits their interests.
Considered very much an "activities person" by friends, you can find me playing pick-up basketball throughout Greater Boston, on the softball field, training for the Boston Marathon, or at a concert or comedy show. I am a proud Boston College alum and board member of "The Brittany Fund for Trauma and Recovery."
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