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Watertown, MA
City in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. ZIP codes: 02472.
Population
35,543
Land area
4sq mi
People per sq mi
8,894
ZIP codes
1
Watertown and its ZIP codes
Watertown at a glance
- Watertown is about 9.8 times as dense as Massachusetts as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 42nd among 248 cities and towns in Massachusetts.
- The median household income is $126,265, 21% above the Massachusetts median of $103,960.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $784,600 (40% above Massachusetts) and median rent is $2,502 a month.
Local data for Watertown, MA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Watertown, MA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$126,265
Poverty rate
7.5%
Median home value
$784,600
Median rent
$2,502/mo
Homeownership
47.7%
Bachelor's or higher
66.5%
Median age
39.4
Average commute
27.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (6,698), Italian Americans (4,722), German Americans (2,720).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Middlesex County. PPP loans are for Watertown.
Unemployment rate
4.0%
Aug 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$118,479
903,942 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$112,011
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$27.4B
FY 2026, $16,790 per person
PPP loans
$144M
1,438 loans, 12,544 jobs reported
How people get to work
Watertown, MA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone49.7%
- Carpooled6.6%
- Public transit6.6%
- Walked4.4%
- Bicycle2.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.5%
- Worked from home29.1%
Average one-way commute: 27.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Watertown, MA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
1,840
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
4,000
1.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 19°F
49.4 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone7 historic places
ZIP codes in Watertown
1 in or overlapping Watertown. Population shown
Cities near Watertown
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| BelmontCensus-designated place | 1.6 mi | 4.6 |
| CambridgeCity | 2.3 mi | 6.4 |
| ArlingtonCensus-designated place | 3.1 mi | 5.1 |
| WalthamCity | 3.1 mi | 12.7 |
| NewtonCity | 3.6 mi | 17.8 |
| BrooklineCensus-designated place | 3.7 mi | 6.8 |
| SomervilleCity | 4.1 mi | 4.1 |
| MedfordCity | 4.7 mi | 8.1 |
| LexingtonCensus-designated place | 5.8 mi | 16.4 |
| WinchesterCensus-designated place | 5.8 mi | 6 |
| BostonCity | 6.3 mi | 48.3 |
| EverettCity | 6.5 mi | 3.4 |
| NeedhamCensus-designated place | 6.8 mi | 12.3 |
| MaldenCity | 7.1 mi | 5 |
| ChelseaCity | 7.8 mi | 2.2 |
| WellesleyCensus-designated place | 7.8 mi | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Watertown, MA in?
- Watertown is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
- What ZIP codes are in Watertown, MA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Watertown include 02472.
- What is the population of Watertown, MA?
- About 35,543 people live in Watertown, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Watertown?
- Nearby places include Belmont (1.6 mi), Cambridge (2.3 mi), Arlington (3.1 mi), Waltham (3.1 mi), Newton (3.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023