How much does it cost to rent in Watertown, MA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Watertown, MA is $3,124. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Watertown cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?

Watertown is one of the pricier cities in Massachusetts, ranking #20 out of 107 cities tracked at $3,124/mo.

When was Watertown rent data last updated?

Watertown rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MA

Watertown

Name: Average Rent Prices in Watertown, MA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 35,543·20th most expensive in Massachusetts·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,124/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.0%

Month-over-Month

+2.3%

vs US Median

+$1,159

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Watertown · $3,124

More expensive than 92% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

46/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Watertown's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$3,124/mo

Expected by trend

$3,067/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Watertown's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,400

1 BR

$2,540

2 BR

$3,010

3 BR

$3,630

4 BR+

$3,990

Research median

$3,010/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$37,488/yr

At $3,124/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.0% YoY, +2.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Watertown, MA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 66.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

35,543

Median income

$126,265

Median age

39.4

Renters

52.3%

Age distribution

14.3%

27.1%

26.9%

13.5%

18.3%

Under 1814.3%

18–3427.1%

35–5426.9%

55–6413.5%

65+18.3%

Gender

45.5%

54.5%

Male45.5%

Female54.5%

Race & ethnicity

71.3%

White71.3%

Black3.8%

Hispanic6%

Asian11.7%

Other7.2%

Education (25+)

13.7%

14.9%

66.5%

No HS diploma4.9%

HS diploma13.7%

Some college14.9%

Bachelor's+66.5%

Housing tenure

47.7%

52.3%

Owner47.7%

Renter52.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Watertown, MA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,254 → $3,124

up 38.6%

Income

$101,103 → $126,265

up 24.9%

Population

35,401 → 35,543

up 0.4%

Renter share

48.2% → 52.3%

+4.1 pts

Bachelor's+

65.9% → 66.5%

+0.6 pts

Median age

38.2 → 39.4

+1.2 yrs

Rent in Watertown, MA has climbed 38.6% since 2021, going from about $2,254 per month to roughly $3,124 today. Median household income grew from $101,103 to $126,265 between 2019 and 2024, a 24.9% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 13.7 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2019. About 52.3% of households rent today, against 48.2% in 2019. Taken together, the five-year picture in Watertown, MA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Watertown

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View Watertown rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Watertown on your salary?

At $3,124/mo, how Watertown rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $109,597/yr · Rent = 34.2% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $77,813/yr · Rent = 48.2% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $89,633/yr · Rent = 41.8% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $160,208/yr · Rent = 23.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $204,705/yr · Rent = 18.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $72,860/yr · Rent = 51.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $65,784/yr · Rent = 57% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $81,084/yr · Rent = 46.2% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Watertown rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Watertown. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Watertown

About renting in Watertown, MA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Watertown is $3,124/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,400/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,010/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,540/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,630/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($126,265/yr), Watertown ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Watertown an affordable city for renters?

Watertown is considered moderate for renters. At $3,124/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($126,265/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Watertown slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Watertown?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $125,000/year (~$60/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,124/mo in Watertown. The local median household income is $126,265/yr, meaning the typical Watertown household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Watertown?

Rent in Watertown has increased 4.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Watertown rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?

Watertown is one of the pricier cities in Massachusetts for rent, ranking #20 out of 107 tracked cities at $3,124/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Watertown?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Watertown ($3,124/mo): Waltham ($3,042/mo), Arlington ($3,043/mo).

What percentage of Watertown residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 52.3% of Watertown households are renters, while 47.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Watertown has a strong rental market.

How does Watertown rent compare to the national average?

Watertown's median rent of $3,124/mo is $1,159 (59%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Massachusetts, it ranks #20 out of 107 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $3,124/mo, rent takes ~30% of Watertown's median household income ($126,265/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Watertown 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax5%

Run the Watertown affordability calculator →

Nearby cities