Massachusetts Home Buyer Guide

Single-family home sales in Watertown, Massachusetts, increased more than 25 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, while house sales in Waltham, Massachusetts, tumbled nearly 10 percent year-over-year.

Condominium sales were a different story. Waltham saw an increase, while Watertown condo sales declined in 2024.

The following is a breakdown of the Waltham and Watertown real estate markets, comparing 2024 to 2023, based on data compiled by the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

2024 vs. 2023 Comparison

Closed Sales

• Waltham single-family sales decreased 9.9 percent from 252 in 2024 to 227 in 2023.

• Home buyers in Watertown bought 73 single-family homes in 2024, an increase of 25.9 percent from 58 in 2023.

• Waltham condominium sales increased to 181, an 18.3 percent jump from 153 in 2023.

• Watertown condo sales fell 8.5 percent from 177 to 162.

Median Sales Price

• The median sales price for single-family homes in Waltham increased 1.3 percent to $810,000.

• In Watertown, the median sales price for single-family homes increased 1.1 percent to $930,000.

• In Waltham, the median sales price for condominiums increased 12.7 percent to $707,000.

• The median sales price for condos in Watertown decreased 2.1 percent to $685,000.

New Listings

• In Waltham, new single-family listings decreased 1.1 percent from 263 in 2023 to 260 in 2024.

• In Watertown, new single-family listings increased 28.8 percent from 66 to 85.

• New condominium listings in Waltham increased 17.9 percent from 173 to 204.

• In Watertown, new condo listings increased by one from 198 to 199.

Percent of Original List Price Received

• Home buyers in Waltham paid 101.1 percent, on average, of the original list price for single-family homes in 2024, an increase of 0.3 percent.

• On average, Watertown home buyers paid 101.3 percent of the original list price for single-family homes in 2023 and 2024.

• Waltham home buyers paid, on average, 101 percent of the original list price for condos, a 0.2 percent decrease.

• In Watertown, on average, sellers received 101.9 percent of the original list price for condominiums, an increase of 0.5 percent.

  
  

December 2024 vs. December 2023 Comparison

December Closed Sales

• Waltham single-family home sales increased 10.5 percent in December 2024 from 19 in December 2023 to 21.

• Watertown single-family house sales increased by two, from 5 to 7.

• Waltham condo sales rose by three to 16 from 13.

• The number of Watertown condominiums sold jumped 31.3 percent from 16 to 21.

December Median Sales Price

• In Waltham, the median price for single-family homes increased 2.6 percent year-over-year to $775,000 in December 2024.

• The median house price in Watertown increased 35.8 percent to $1,100,000.

• The median condo price in Waltham dropped 16.7 percent to $670,763.

• In Watertown, the median price for a condominium rose 9.3 percent to $671,000.

Percent of Original List Price Received in December

• On average, Waltham home buyers paid 98.4 percent of the original list price for houses, an increase of 1.4 percent from December 2024.

• In Watertown, single-family homes sold, on average, for 91.9 percent of the percent of original list price, decreasing 2 percent from December 2023.

• On average, Waltham home buyers paid 101.1 percent of the original list price for condominiums, an increase of 1.8 percent.

• Home buyers in Watertown paid 100 percent of the original list price, on average, for condos, a 2.1 percent increase.

Inventory of Homes for Sale in December

• Waltham had 12 houses for sale on December 31, 2024, compared to eight on December 31, 2023.

• Two houses were for sale in Watertown on December 31, 2024, compared to four on December 31, 2023.

• Waltham had 11 condos for sale on December 31, 2024, compared to 10 on December 31, 2023.

• In Watertown, condominium inventory was flat in December, with nine units on the market on December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023.

Other Key Data Points

• Waltham Highest-priced Sale: The highest-priced single-family sale in 2024 was $2,075,000, the only sale over $2 million.  

• Watertown Highest-priced Sale: The highest-priced sale in 2024 was a single-family house that sold for $2,325,000. There were two sales over $2 million.

• Waltham Top 10 Percent: Besides one $2 million-plus property, there were 12 single-family sales between $1.5 million and $1.99 million and 67 sales between $900,000 and $1.499 million.  

• Watertown Top 10 Percent: Besides the two $2 million-plus properties, there were 24 single-family sales between $1 million and $2 million.