Charlie Breitrose
People keep flowing into Watertown. Perhaps the Charles River is one of the draws of the town – the fastest growing community in Massachusetts.
With all the new housing going up around town, it may not come as a surprise, but Watertown had the fastest growth in Massachusetts according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The town grew by 997 people to 34,127 from July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014, according to estimated population changes made by the Census Bureau. The 3 percent growth lead all cities and towns in the Bay State. The estimate takes into account births, deaths, immigration and housing growth (see details on the methodology here).
Bell Watertown, formerly Alta at the Estate, opened within that time period, as did smaller apartment complexes in the Pleasant Street Corridor.
The town could keep up the pace in growth, with the recently opened Watertown Mews, and the coming projects on Arsenal Street – the approved 202-204 Arsenal Street and Elan, which goes before the Zoning Board on Thursday, May 28.
Other fast growing communities include Rowley (2.77 percent) on the North Shore, Nantucket (2.73 percent), Holden (2.68 percent) in Central Massachusetts, and Boston area communities of Chelsea and Everett (2.6 percent each).
Watertown did not have the largest growth, by pure numbers. Boston grew by 5,967 – or 0.92 percent. Cambridge added 1,962 residents, a 1.8 percent growth. See the chart of all towns in Massachusetts here.