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Place dossier plate
SheetMA-BRIDGEWATER-MA · Bridgewater, MA 28,669 pop · income 84th pct · 111 tracts
Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.
Income neighbourhood around Bridgewater
Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Bridgewater on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.
median HH income
Danville · lowest
44,239
Danville · lowest
44,239 median HH income
24.8% of the leader · rank #1
Pearland · near
112,470
Pearland · near
112,470 median HH income
63.2% of the leader · rank #2
Canal Winches… · near
112,474
Canal Winches… · near
112,474 median HH income
63.2% of the leader · rank #3
Bridgewater · this city
112,482
Bridgewater · this city
112,482 median HH income
63.2% of the leader · rank #4
Treasure Lake · near
112,482
Treasure Lake · near
112,482 median HH income
63.2% of the leader · rank #5
Madisonville · near
112,500
Madisonville · near
112,500 median HH income
63.2% of the leader · rank #6
Milton · highest
178,053
Milton · highest
178,053 median HH income
100.0% of the leader · rank #7
What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by population, income, and FBI crime rate
Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Bridgewater on ACS population and median household income
, plus FBI UCR reporting rate when the extract covers this place. Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.
Similar population
Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 28,669.
Agency-reported UCR totals per 100,000 population, not a neighborhood safety grade or a prediction of personal risk.
Bridgewater - the verdict
Bridgewater ranks in the 84th percentile for household income and the 94th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.
84th
percentile, household income
85th
percentile, home value
98th
percentile, median rent
94th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this
Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.
Data Snapshot: Bridgewater, MA
Massachusetts's Bridgewater is a small city, with 28,669 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Bridgewater brings in $112,482 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.4%. Typical homes in Bridgewater are valued around $500,600, and the median resident age is 37.4 years. Educational attainment runs 39.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 58.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.
In 2024, 38 residential building permits were authorized in Bridgewater (Slowing), down 16% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Bridgewater reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 274.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 49.2°F with 51.0 inches of precipitation per year.
Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Massachusetts scores 105.8 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,261 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Massachusetts run around $330, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 78.8 out of 100 (High).
A decision-led reading path
Useful questions to ask of Bridgewater's data
How this reading path is ordered
This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to comparison shortlist to schools and households to within-city variation to work and mobility to reported crime to climate and hazard context to population change; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.
For Bridgewater, city-specific coverage includes within-city Census tract profiles, annual population history, FBI reported-crime rates, commute-mode shares, matched public-school count, local building permits.
All six city-specific enrichment layers used by this profile are present.
1. Housing and income
How far does income reach against housing in Bridgewater?
This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median. That flags a question for comparison, not a verdict: tenure, household composition, financing costs, and the age of the ACS estimate can all change what a resident actually pays.
The home-value-to-income reference is comparatively stretched: the ACS median home value is 4.5 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 2.4%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.
Which cities make useful reference points for Bridgewater?
Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching. The nationwide peer panel below adds a fourth FBI UCR reporting-rate lens, not personal risk.
Within Massachusetts, the closest population matches are Northampton (28,640 residents, $78,467 income); West Springfield (28,635 residents, $70,401 income); Saugus (28,599 residents, $100,819 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Daphne, AL (28,673 residents); Slidell, LA (28,664 residents); Danville, IL (28,663 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.
What does the education layer cover for Bridgewater?
The city has a broader matched school footprint, but count alone does not describe performance, capacity, program availability, or attendance boundaries. This profile deliberately avoids converting it into an unsupported family-friendliness score.
The NCES join finds 5 public schools within the city match. 39.7% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher in the ACS estimate. These measures answer different questions: the school count describes local institutions, while adult attainment describes residents and cannot be used as a school-quality rating.
What can 111 Census tracts reveal inside Bridgewater?
PlainCities matches 111 Census tracts to this city.
That layer breaks the citywide income, rent, and home-value medians into smaller Census geographies, which can reveal differences that one municipal median necessarily hides. A tract is a statistical area, not a locally defined neighborhood or a promise about conditions on a particular block. Start with the city profile for the broad comparison, then use the tract layer to test whether the same housing and income pattern is consistent across the city. Large within-city spreads are a reason to avoid treating any citywide median as a universal resident experience.
These joined records add useful context, but they do not need another full-size panel. Each remains a separate measure with its own geography and source boundary.
Work and mobility
What does the journey to work look like in Bridgewater?
Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 75.2%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.
Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.
Drive alone
75.2%
Work from home
11.9%
Public transit
2.0%
City-level Census ACS commuting estimates covering 14,177 workers age 16+.
What can the FBI record say about safety in Bridgewater?
The joined FBI UCR record reports 274.9 violent and property crimes per 100,000 residents, below the 2280.5 national reference used here. The difference is 88% lower in arithmetic terms, but agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies.
Treat this as a reporting-rate comparison, not a prediction of personal risk or a neighborhood-level safety grade. Tourism, daytime population, reporting practices, and variation inside the city are not adjusted away. The state rank and same-state peer table are the narrower comparisons available on this page.
Total reported rate
274.9
Violent rate
74.7
Property rate
200.2
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, incidents per 100,000. Voluntary agency reporting; not a danger score.
What physical conditions frame life in Bridgewater?
The two sources should not be blended into one comfort or safety score. Use the climate values for baseline conditions and the risk index as a prompt to inspect specific hazards, insurance, and local emergency guidance for a particular address.
NOAA normals put the annual mean temperature at 49.2°F, with 51.0 inches of precipitation. FEMA's state-averaged National Risk Index score for Massachusetts is 78.8 out of 100. Climate normals describe long-run weather; the FEMA score on PlainCities is a state average of county NRI inputs and combines hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and resilience.
FEMA risk index (state avg)
78.8
Annual precipitation
51.0 in
Mean temperature
49.2°F
NOAA Climate Normals and FEMA National Risk Index (state-averaged on PlainCities). Hazard context is not address-level.
Is Bridgewater growing, shrinking, or holding steady?
Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +2,548 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +9.5% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 38 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.
Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.
2020 estimate
26,761
2025 estimate
29,309
Period change
+9.5%
Census Population Estimates Program, 2020–2025; permit context uses Census BPS.
Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians
(income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when
published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability
rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out
and redistribute weight.
How it is calculated.
Poverty rate A-
2.4%
Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.
Household income A-
$112,482
Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.
Violent crime B+
75 /100k
FBI UCR violent offenses per 100,000 residents; lower is stronger on this axis.
Bachelor's+ share B+
39.7%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.
Cost of living F
105.8 index
BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.
Bridgewater profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)Read the chart values
Poverty rate: 83/100 (A-) · 2.4%
Household income: 82/100 (A-) · $112,482
Violent crime: 77/100 (B+) · 75 /100k
Bachelor's+ share: 75/100 (B+) · 39.7%
Cost of living: 18/100 (F) · 105.8 index
Where Bridgewater sits on home value vs crime among peer cities
Bridgewater's median home value and FBI crime rate plotted with similar-size and
same-state peers (padded with large cities when the peer set is thin). The second
read: pricey does not always mean safer, check which quadrant this city lands in.
Census ACS median home value vs FBI UCR crime rate - Bridgewater highlighted among 12 peers.Read the chart values
Bridgewater, MA (this city): home $500,600, crime 275/100k
Daphne, AL : home $309,700, crime 899/100k
Slidell, LA : home $207,800, crime 2,541/100k
Danville, IL : home $76,800, crime 7,361/100k
Newburgh, NY : home $221,100, crime 2,901/100k
Port Huron, MI : home $136,000, crime 2,106/100k
Northampton, MA : home $398,000, crime 1,717/100k
West Springfield, MA : home $307,900, crime 3,589/100k
Saugus, MA : home $589,500, crime 1,652/100k
Agawam, MA : home $290,000, crime 1,331/100k
Milton, MA : home $896,500, crime 614/100k
Danvers, MA : home $611,200, crime 1,618/100k
How does Bridgewater compare to other US cities?
Where Bridgewater sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.
Household income84% higher than other cities
Home value85% pricier than other cities
Median rent98% pricier than other cities
Safety94% safer than other cities
"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.
Zoom in to just Massachusetts and the picture shifts: Bridgewater ranks #11 of 149 Massachusetts cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.
How we calculate these percentiles & ranks
Each percentile compares Bridgewater against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Massachusetts only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.
Massachusetts-relative analysis
Median Gross Rent places Bridgewater near the bottom of Massachusetts's cities
Among the 247 Massachusetts cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Bridgewater ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bridgewater only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.
Median Household Income
#79 of 233
66th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 247
0th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Home Value
#118 of 240
51st percentile in Massachusetts
Poverty Rate
#162 of 247
33rd percentile in Massachusetts
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#155 of 247
37th percentile in Massachusetts
How in-state ranks are ordered
Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Massachusetts only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.
Gauge source note
84th percentile nationally for median household income · 94th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.
Bridgewater's profile vs. every US city
Income, affordability, and safety percentile
Bridgewater's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.
How Bridgewater's home value compares nationally
Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)
$500,60015th percentilemore affordable than 15% of 15,600 US cities
Show national distribution
Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023
Bridgewater's home-value-to-income ratio: 4.5×
ACS median home value divided by median household income.
Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#11,878 of 15,516
More affordable than 23% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#2,316 of 3,317
Small cities (10,000–49,999)
At 4.5×, Bridgewater sits in the moderate band:
national rank #11,878 of 15,516 and #2,316 of 3,317small cities (10,000–49,999).
Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.
How this ratio is calculated
Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000.
Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0).
This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.
Income distribution context
$112,482Bridgewater, MA median household income (Census ACS)
Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Bridgewater, MA median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Bridgewater, MA.
Key socioeconomic indicators
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)39.7%
Census ACS S1501, educational attainment
Poverty rate (households below FPL)2.4%
Census ACS S1701, poverty status
Labor force participation (adults 16+)58.9%
Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force
Population
28,669
Median Income
$112,482
Median Home Value
$500,600
Median Age
37.4
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Labor force participation
58.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
39.7%
Safety & Crime
Total Crime Rate
274.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
74.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
200.2
per 100,000 residents
Crime reporting caveat
Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.
Climate
Avg Temperature
49.2°F
Annual Precipitation
51.0"
Annual Snowfall
N/A
Schools
Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city
Population Change
PEP vintage
Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025
Bridgewater's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.Read the chart as text
Period
Population
2020
26,761 residents
2021
28,595 residents
2022
28,842 residents
2023
29,042 residents
2024
29,351 residents
2025
29,309 residents
Housing Supply
BPS source
Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized
🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
38
housing units authorized
Single-Family
38
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.3
permits per 1,000 residents
5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)
Year
Total
Single-Family
Multifamily
Est. Value
2019
45
43
2
$9.3M
2020
144
84
60
$30.7M
2021
99
51
48
$27.6M
2022
41
41
0
$11.5M
2023
39
39
0
$11.9M
2024
38
38
0
$11.5M
Permit volume decreased 16% from 2019 to 2024.
Commute Patterns
Commute source
How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023
Drive Alone
75.2%
Carpool
4.4%
Public Transit
2.0%
Walk
5.5%
Work from Home
11.9%
Other
1.0%
Based on 14,177 workers 16 and over.
Monthly Utility Costs
Massachusetts statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $330
EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Massachusetts at $330 (electricity about $160 , water and sewer about $60 ).
These are Massachusetts statewide averages, not a meter reading for Bridgewater. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.
Living Costs & Risk
Massachusetts's BEA cost-of-living index is 105.8 (Above Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Bridgewater is $2,261/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Massachusetts statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 78.8 / 100 (High).
Cost/risk geography note
Cost of living is a Massachusetts statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Bridgewater sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.
How Bridgewater compares to similar-size Massachusetts cities
Same-state peer method
Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.