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Living in
Bridgewater.
About
Life in Bridgewater
If you're considering Bridgewater, know upfront that you're looking at a solidly affluent suburban community where most households earn six figures and homes run half a million dollars—this isn't an affordable option, but it's stable and well-resourced. The commute to Boston averages just under 32 minutes, which is reasonable for the region, though you'll definitely need a car for daily life here. The job market is steady with unemployment around 4.6%, and nearly 40% of residents have college degrees, so you'll find a fairly educated community with decent professional opportunities, though many people commute out for work.
Bridgewater at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Foreign-Born
9.7%
Broadband Internet
95.0%
of households
Population Growth
+2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.7% foreign-born, most often from Sierra Leone
Who lives in Bridgewater: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bridgewater, the largest foreign-born group is from Sierra Leone (18.1%), and 4.0% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
17.6%
of residents
65 and Older
17.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.7%
of households
Married Couples
57.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 19% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Bridgewater
In Bridgewater, rent runs 19% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,499
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Bridgewater
Unemployment in Bridgewater is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bridgewater Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.4 min avg
How Bridgewater residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bridgewater, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 mi
New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB)
Regional airport · few flights3,145 passengers boarded in 2025
- 26 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 73% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bridgewater runs 73% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
87.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
178.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bridgewater Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Plymouth County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Plymouth County, which includes Bridgewater, the most common type is strong wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9,200 |
| 2024 | 14 | High Wind | $19,000 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $45,400 |
| 2022 | 25 | Strong Wind | $52,200 |
| 2021 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2020 | 37 | Strong Wind | $171,100 |
| 2019 | 35 | Strong Wind | $139,700 |
| 2018 | 31 | Strong Wind | $189,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Plymouth County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Plymouth County, which includes Bridgewater, is typically good — 308 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
308
per year
Moderate Days
56
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Plymouth County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bridgewater has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
51.0"
Annual Snowfall
34.3"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
142
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 17°F | 4.16" |
| Feb | 40°F | 18°F | 3.36" |
| Mar | 47°F | 26°F | 5.18" |
| Apr | 58°F | 35°F | 4.76" |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 3.79" |
| Jun | 77°F | 54°F | 4.11" |
| Jul | 83°F | 60°F | 4.25" |
| Aug | 81°F | 58°F | 2.74" |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 4.29" |
| Oct | 63°F | 40°F | 5.05" |
| Nov | 53°F | 31°F | 4.61" |
| Dec | 43°F | 24°F | 4.66" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bridgewater
Uninsured
2.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Bridgewater's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Brown University Health Morton Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.7 mi away · Taunton
Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Brockton
Taunton State Hospital
Psychiatric · 8 mi away · Taunton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bridgewater
Bridgewater's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 39.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Bridgewater
Public · 4-year · 7,829 students · in-state tuition $12,194 · 60% graduate · median earnings $61,441 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 4,235 students · in-state tuition $5,472 · 23% graduate · median earnings $50,480 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Adams National Historical Park, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bridgewater
Bridgewater has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Adams National Historical Park (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Adams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
22 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
23 mi awayNew Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
24 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
26 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
27 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
27 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bridgewater
Bridgewater Public Library
15 South St., Bridgewater
Cities Near Bridgewater
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bridgewater?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bridgewater FAQ
Is Bridgewater, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Bridgewater's median rent is $2,092/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $112,651/year. Median home value is $533,100.
Is Bridgewater, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Bridgewater's violent crime rate was 88 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 178 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bridgewater, Massachusetts?⌄
Bridgewater has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bridgewater, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Bridgewater is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,092/month and median household income is $112,651/year. The median home value is $533,100. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bridgewater, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Bridgewater is 31 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from