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.
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.
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 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.
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.