Nonantum
Newton's most close-knit neighborhood — Italian-American heritage, strong community bonds, and relative affordability.
About Nonantum
Nonantum — locals call it 'the Lake' — is Newton's most distinct village, with an identity rooted in its Italian-American heritage and a community bond that's genuinely hard to find anywhere else. Watertown Street is the main corridor, and Adams Street cuts through the residential heart. The homes are more modest here, the lots smaller, and the prices lower than the rest of Newton. What you get instead is something money can't buy: a neighborhood where everyone knows everyone, St. Philip Neri Church is the social anchor, and the annual St. Mary of Carmen Festival brings the whole village together every July. It borders Watertown and Brighton, giving it an urban edge that other Newton villages lack.
Property Character
Newton's most affordable village. Modest single-family homes, many from the 1920s-1950s, on smaller lots. A good number of two-families and multi-family homes. Some homes need updating, which creates opportunity for buyers willing to renovate. Vinyl-sided Colonials and Capes are the backbone of the housing stock.
Typical Home Styles
Best For
Local Highlights
- •St. Mary of Carmen Festival — annual Italian street festival every July, a Newton tradition
- •Shalala's Bakery — Italian cookies, bread, and pastries from an old-school bakery
- •Watertown Street restaurants — growing mix of dining options along the corridor
- •Pellino's Ristorante — fine Italian dining, a neighborhood anchor
- •Proximity to Arsenal Yards in Watertown — new retail, dining, and entertainment complex
Getting Around
No Green Line stop in Nonantum — this is a bus and car village. The 59 bus runs along Watertown Street connecting to Newtonville and Watertown Square. Mass Pike access is quick via Newton Corner. Many residents commute to Cambridge and Watertown, which are both adjacent. Bike path along the Charles River connects to the larger path network.
Schools
Served by Horace Mann Elementary (K-5), which has a diverse student body and strong community engagement. Feeds into F.A. Day Middle School. High school is Newton North. Horace Mann reflects the tight-knit Nonantum community — it's a school where parents are very involved.
Explore more of Newton
Nonantum is just one part of what makes Newton special.