What it's like to live in Bridgewater
Bridgewater is a small city in Massachusetts with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Bridgewater deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Above-average rainfall
How Bridgewater compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Bridgewater
Based on Bridgewater's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,184
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $83,680 a year
- 54% of Bridgewater renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$106,620
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $53,310
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 48% above US
$2,092/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,092 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $533,100. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $533,100 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 73% below US
88 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 178/100k · Bridgewater Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 21% above US
31 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.4 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 20°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
40% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 40% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Adams National Historical Park (20 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Bridgewater's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,092/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
See all the data for Bridgewater →·All Massachusetts cities →
Other places near Bridgewater
All Massachusetts guides →Moving to Brockton →
8 mi away · pop. 105,386
Rent $1,641/mo · Income $80,115
Compare with Bridgewater →Moving to Abington →
9 mi away · pop. 17,053
Rent $1,724/mo · Income $125,400
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