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Waltham, Massachusetts sits about nine miles west of downtown Boston along the Charles River, a former mill city grown into a quietly busy suburb with a real student population. Brandeis University and Bentley University both call the area home, filling the neighborhoods with undergrads, grad students, and plenty of late-night study energy. Moody Street is the social spine, a walkable stretch of shops, theaters, and gathering spots locals just call the downtown. The Charles River Greenway and Prospect Hill Park give you trails and ridge views when you need to escape a problem set, and the seasonal farmers market draws a crowd. It's close enough to Boston that the city feels reachable, but Waltham keeps its own scrappy, lived-in character.
Moody Street and the downtown core put you in the thick of it, walkable to shops, the river, and the commuter rail, which is why a lot of students cluster here.
The neighborhoods near Brandeis off South Street are popular with that campus crowd, full of triple-deckers built for sharing.
Below the tracks, South Side leans residential and a touch quieter while staying close to downtown.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Waltham.
Waltham runs on the MBTA, with options depending on where you land. The Fitchburg commuter rail line stops at Waltham and Brandeis/Roberts stations, reaching North Station in Boston in roughly half an hour. MBTA buses connect the neighborhoods, Bentley runs its own shuttle, and Brandeis operates the Branvan and Boston-bound shuttles. Both schools sit close to the rail and bus lines, so getting to campus is the easy part.
Moody Street and the downtown core are genuinely walkable, with most errands doable on foot if you live central. Biking works along the Charles River Greenway and side streets. The hills near Bentley test your legs, so plan your route. Students who live central can cover daily life on foot and bike.
A car helps if you're commuting between campuses or heading to the suburbs, but plenty of students skip one and lean on transit and shuttles. Driving is most useful for trips beyond the rail and bus lines. Expect typical suburban parking, easier than Boston but tighter near the downtown core. Many students manage without a car given the shuttles and commuter rail.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Waltham runs on the pricier end for a Boston suburb. Shared apartments and houses usually land around $700 to $1,100 per bedroom per month, while a one-bedroom on its own often runs $2,400 to $2,900. Splitting a triple-decker with roommates is how most students keep it manageable.
Browse student housing near each Waltham-area university.