Watertown, Mass. (Boston, Cambridge, Harvard: apartment, renting, low crime)

[poofbegone]

I'd like to find out a bit more about Watertown. Is it a nice area to live in, things to do there, is it affordable in renting an apartment?, etc.
Also, typically how long is the commute from Watertown to downtown Boston?

[brightdoglover]

Affordable? Eye of the beholder. Nothing so close to Boston/Cambridge is any kind of bargain. It's a fine place to live, lots of ethnic restaurants, near the Charles River for walking/running, plenty of working-class people to keep it from being too yupped up. A large Armenian community. Borders Cambridge and there is no commute, really, to Boston, that is, unlikely you'd be driving at all. A bus runs to Harvard Square and then on to Boston (or the T into Boston and other parts of Cambridge).

Watertown's proximity to Cambridge/Boston is second to none for going out, entertainment, and work. It's a fine place to be. Low crime.

[Parsec]

There are several buses from Watertown to downtown Boston. The slower local bus will take you into Watertown neighborhoods but they run less frequently and cut off service around 5pm. The express bus runs frequently from Watertown Square, basically as often as the T during peak hours. It's generally about 30 minutes, but can be 45min if there's an accident on the Pike or if it's raining/snowing.

[masshawk]

I just wrote a bunch about Watertown here. I think it's a really nice place to live, tons to eat, nothing really to do in the town itself besides a handful of pubs, a climbing gym, mall, and some nice bike trails, but it's so convenient to other places around Boston that it doesn't really matter. People are pretty civic-minded and involved in the community. It's like a cross between a small town and an outer neighborhood of Boston.

Commute downtown is about 15 min by car with light traffic, who knows during rush hour. If you live near the 71/73 bus on the east side you can be door to door to Park St. station (change to red line at Harvard) in 25-30 min in the morning or evening. Nights and weekends are slower because the buses don't run as frequently. West side or 70/70A to Central takes longer, probably more like 40-45. There are also lots of new bike lanes and some good bike paths.