BridgewaterVA
A town of 6,708, settled in 1835. Public schools that outperform most of Virginia.
Population
6,708
+16.9% since 2010
Typical home
$375K
+0.8% in a year
Household income
$75K
median
Jobs based here
3,342
Balanced
What makes Bridgewater stand out The 3 things Bridgewater does most differently from other towns.
A growing town Bridgewater has grown 16.9% since 2010 5,644 people in 2010; 6,708 today.
What’s changed most in Bridgewater? 5,644 2010
6,596 2020
6,708 Today
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
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Bridgewater is #5 of 255 in VA for “Shortest commute”. Fair?
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In the news: Centre College 45-0 Bridgewater (VA) (Sep 26, 2026) Box Score → How do you get to work from Bridgewater? → What do families love about Bridgewater’s schools? → What’s your favorite trail or park in Bridgewater? →
62° Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny H 75° · L 55°
Upcoming events
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The data Ordered by what stands out in Bridgewater. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in eight working residents works right in Bridgewater Most working residents leave Bridgewater for work: only 12% work in town. The top destinations are Harrisonburg (28%), Dayton (3%) and Staunton (2%). Half commute less than 8 miles.
12% work in town
Where working residents work In Bridgewater 12%
Harrisonburg 28%
Dayton 3%
Staunton 2%
Richmond 1%
8 mi
median commute distance
3,342
jobs based in Bridgewater
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Schools
Bridgewater’s public schools outperform 55% of Virginia districts The public schools Bridgewater’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 55% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B School Grade
Outdoors
3.1% of Bridgewater is conserved land 3.9 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves.
#56 for trails in VA
Green: conserved land · dashed: trails · numbers: the places below 3.1%
conserved · 49 of 1,609 acres
3.9 mi
of trails · 1.6 per sq mi
Biggest places to walk Trails Acres 1. Crist Farm Walking Trails 1.2 mi 20 2. Wildwood Park 0.6 mi 10 3. Cooks Creek Arboretum 0.4 mi 9
Safety
Less crime per resident than 86% of U.S. towns Bridgewater reports less crime per resident than 86% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
A Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents Bridgewater 0.9
Virginia 2.1
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents Bridgewater 5.4
Virginia 13.9
U.S. 15.5
86th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
95th
percentile among VA towns
6
violent crimes reported in 2025
37
property crimes reported in 2025
Health
Healthier than 86% of U.S. towns Bridgewater beats the Virginia average on 10 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
A Health Grade
32 measures vs. Virginia
What stands out Bridgewater VA Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off 4.5% 7.1% Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth 7.2% 11.1% More adults who have had cancer 8.7% 7.7%
Sentara Rmh Medical Center
6.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
72nd
percentile among VA towns
Housing
A typical Bridgewater home is worth about $375K The typical Bridgewater home is worth about $375,000, up 0.8% in a year, 10% below the Virginia typical home.
$375K Zillow home value
Typical home value Bridgewater $375K
Virginia $415K
+0.8%
value change, 1 year
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers Bridgewater has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 19 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
19″ snow a winter
Typical low → high °F Winter 26–46°
Spring 41–66°
Summer 61–84°
Fall 43–68°
Oct 23
typical first frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 47% of U.S. communities.
47 risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
47 Moderate risk Lower Higher Inland flooding
39
paid flood claims since 1985
2
federal disasters paid out here
College town
26% of Bridgewater is in college
1907 · Natural falls, Bridgewater, Va · Wikimedia Commons
Bridgewater’s story
191 years in pictures
12 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
Explore the history →
Famous people from Bridgewater 3 notable people were born in Bridgewater.
See all 3 →
Bridgewater is an incorporated town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,596 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia , licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Established 1835
Population 6,596
Area 2.5 sq mi
Elevation 1,178 ft
ZIP code 22812
Area code 540 
