Proximity to Boston is bringing economic growth to Watertown
Watertown was one of the oldest settlements of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and it honors that past with a heavy nod toward the future. Unlike some other neighboring Boston suburbs, Watertown is an active community in and of itself. “It used to be a cozy little blue-collar town,” says Jamie Venezia, real estate agent and owner of Delaney & Venezia, who was born and raised in Watertown. “Proximity to Boston has driven a lot of money into the town, and it’s changing rapidly.” Modern residents enjoy innovative restaurants, parks, public transportation and some of the best access to the Charles River outside of Boston.
The village of Watertown was incorporated in 1630.
The town of Watertown is the perfect suburb with really close access to Boston.
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Arsenal Yards is a popular shopping and dining destination
The West End has a handful of solid restaurants, including Roksana’s Persian Food and Boston-based chain Not Your Average Joe’s. Most of the town’s highest-rated dining destinations, however, are in the more commercial East Watertown. Diners can find the retro Deluxe Town Diner as well as several Armenian delis and bakeries, including Massis Bakery — a local institution since 1938. Watertown, at this point, is probably most known regionally for Arsenal Yards, which bills itself as a modern “urban village.” The Arsenal Yards complex, housed in a repurposed armory, includes locally owned boutiques, national retailers, a movie theater and tons of restaurants, such as Taffer’s Tavern and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. Arsenal Yards also has a life sciences campus, which is home to several biotech companies.
Arsenal Yards has many shops and dining options along with a large park for residents.
Enjoy some sushi served from a conveyor belt at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in Watertown.
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Several commuter options from Watertown to Boston
With access to Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) and Soldiers Field Road, getting into Boston for work is quite feasible. There are also several nearby public transportation options. Locals can take their personal bikes or use Bluebikes along the Charles River Greenway. They can also access Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) rail stations, two of which are located within a 2-mile radius of the city. In addition, MBTA buses make stops along Arsenal Street. With several new lab spaces in town, however, some citizens can avoid a commute altogether.
Watertown has multiple MBTA stops throughout the town for commuters.
Watertown is conveniently located on major roads and highways.
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Exercising at Victory Field and along the Charles River
There are plenty of ways to stay active in the West End. At Victory Field, the home of the Watertown High School Raiders, the community is welcome to use the track for exercise. “Victory Field is the main hub of activity — people come there for field hockey games and baseball games,” Venezia says. “When the field hockey team is in their state run, they have huge crowds.” Moxley Memorial Playground, which is used by Watertown Middle School, includes amenities like a batting cage, athletic fields and play areas for kids of all ages. “The Charles River is another place people frequent. They run and walk their dogs or go fishing there — my son has caught bass and pickerel,” Venezia says. Locals also have access to cultural sites, including the Armenian Museum of America, which offers documentary screenings and musical performances.
Enjoy a walk on the track of Victory Field in Watertown.
Residents in Watertown enjoy runs during all the seasons.
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Housing options in Watertown
Though some homes in Watertown date back to the 1800s, buyers can also find newly built condos and single-family residences as well. While two-bedroom Cape Cods and Dutch colonials in need of updates might list between $500,000 and the upper $700,000s, grand Victorian-era gems or custom new builds with 3,000 square feet or more can go for upwards of $2 million. Due to the high demand for housing in Watertown, condos and townhouses are popular as well. Condos often sell between $500,000 and $1 million and townhouses list anywhere from $600,000 to $1.5 million. “We’ve also got rental communities popping up everywhere,” Venezia says.
Multifamily style homes are common among the town of Watertown.
Modern single-family home with private driveways are common in Watertown.
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Events in Saltonstall Park
Annual events in Watertown include Faire on the Square, which takes place each September in Saltonstall Park. Near Halloween and Christmas, locals can head to the Commander’s Mansion for festivals. During warmer months, there is a weekly farmer’s market as well as a concert series, both of which take place in Saltonstall Park.
Watertown High School is known for its field hockey team
Area children are served by Watertown Public Schools, a district with around 2,500 students across three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Depending on a student’s address, they may be zoned for Cunniff Elementary School, which earns a C-plus on Niche, Lowell Elementary School, with a B or Hosmer Elementary School, which gets a B-minus, all of which were recently rebuilt. Next, they may attend Watertown Middle School, which has a B-minus rating. At A-minus-rated Watertown High School, students can participate in the drama program or join the gold medal-winning robotics team. Watertown High also has an impressive field hockey program led by coach Eileen Donahue. Not only have they won the state championships several times, but in 2023, they also set a record for the most shutout games in a row — 37 in all. Those who prefer to send their children to private schools can find Buckingham Browne & Nichols School in nearby Cambridge. It scores an A-plus on Niche and is ranked the No. 2 among private kindergarten through 12th grade schools in Massachusetts.
West Junior High School is a great choice for schooling in Watertown, MA.
Lowell Elementary School has plans to expand.
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Watertown plans for a greener tomorrow
Watertown residents face environmental concerns such as flooding, dry spells and periodic high heat during the summer months. The city has a climate change plan in place—its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and rely solely on renewable energy sources by 2050. One step toward this is the new design for the high school, which will employ heat from geothermal wells. The project is slated for completion in 2026.
Charles River Greenway in Watertown can be enjoyed with different water activities.
The town of Watertown blooms with color and flowers during the spring.
On average, homes in Watertown, MA sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 48 days. The median sale price for homes in Watertown, MA over the last 12 months is $850,000, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Some chose a career in real estate. For others, real estate chooses them. Such was the case for Nichole Bookwalter Savenor. After purchasing a home on the National Historic Register, Nichole became so entrenched remodeling her 1844 Greek Revival that she was nominated to serve on Somerville’s Historic Commission. The rest, as they say, is history.
Eighteen years and one Mid-Century remodel later, Nichole still operates with the same passion for real estate that catapulted her career over a decade ago. A devout Architectural Digest reader and former intern at Mass General/Harvard, she’s an anomaly of sorts. Bolstered by a degree in Biochemistry, she flawlessly blends left and right brain, methodically analyzing market data, trends, and pricing strategies, all while delivering flawless staging schemes.
A personable problem-solver, Nichole jokes that she’d be a therapist in an alternate life. Whether navigating relationships, marriage, divorce, kids, schools, or new jobs, she’s the consummate guide when ushering folks into the next chapter of their lives. Truth be told, Nichole lets her clients guide the process. It’s a tactic that landed her Rookie of the Year her first year in the biz, and it’s continued to drive her success today, nearly 225M in sales later.
Co-founder of the Savenor Berkery Group, Nichole and her partner, Merrill Berkery, have cultivated excellent relationships with clients, colleagues, and the community. Nichole has been President of the Cambridge Community of Realtors (CCR) for over 10 years. The CCR helps raise money for homeless children in Cambridge, has held continuing education courses for realtors, and gatherings for the greater real estate community. Through the CCR Nichole’s has strong relationships with brokers, lenders, attorneys, and anyone that touches the real estate business.
Residing in Belmont and now an empty nester! To see her two adult children requires a trip to Boulder, CO where both her boys are students at the University of Colorado. Known to walk her pup, Charlie, on the 1,100-acre green space in the neighborhood, she’s equally at home sailing or on the slopes. Whenever she can Nichole and her family can be found telemark skiing at Killington where they enjoy their second home. Who knows, maybe there’s a third remodel in her future. If anyone could receive three awards from the Historic Commission, it’s Nichole.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
