Bridgewater’s story
Bridgewater in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
BridgewaterSD
A town of 451. Public schools that outperform most of South Dakota.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Runner1928 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
451
residents
Median home value
$116K
Census ACS
Household income
$47K
median
Median age
48.7
years
Jobs based here
98
A commuter town
What makes Bridgewater stand out
The thing Bridgewater does most differently from other towns.
Small town
451 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
BridgewaterBridgewater
Bridgewater’s report card
Now in Bridgewater
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Residents weigh in
Live in Bridgewater? Is an A for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Bridgewater’s Town Square.
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Weather
Forecast →63°
Cloudy
H 61° · L 50°
Local news
All →- MCCM (CO-OP) Varsity Football @ BEEHS (CO-OP)maxpreps.com · Sep 23
- Names released in fatal McCook County motorcycle crashDakota News Now · Aug 20
- Motorcyclist, passenger dead after fatal crash in McCook CountyDakota News Now · Aug 17
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bridgewater. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Bridgewater’s public schools outperform 86% of South Dakota districts
The public schools Bridgewater’s kids attend outperform 86% of South Dakota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
ASchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater-Emery Elementary - 02 | PK–5 | 143 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within SD on state testsAll 1 schools →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Bridgewater
Most working residents leave Bridgewater for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Sioux Falls (37%), Canistota (7%) and Canistota (6%). Half commute less than 37 miles.
4%work in town
Where working residents work
In Bridgewater4%
Sioux Falls37%
Canistota7%
Canistota6%
Mitchell3%
37 mi
median commute distance
98
jobs based in Bridgewater
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Bridgewater has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 8°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–30°
Spring35–58°
Summer60–82°
Fall37–60°
Oct 7
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Bridgewater is
Bridgewater beats the South Dakota average on 3 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 3.
26 measures vs. South Dakota
3 better20 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Bridgewater | SD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults in frequent mental distress | 13.1% | 15.3% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.9% | 75.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.9% | 9.2% |
Freeman Medical Center - Cah
14.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities.
55risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesDrought
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
Homes in Bridgewater sell for about $140K
The median sale price was $140,000 in May 2026.
$140Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Bridgewater for work
Where Bridgewater’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
98jobs based in Bridgewater
4%of working residents work in town
37 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Bridgewater
City in South Dakota, United States
Bridgewater is a city in southwestern McCook County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 511 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 511
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,417 ft
- ZIP code
- 57319
- Area code
- 605
More about Bridgewater
Still missing for Bridgewater:archive photosupcoming events