Bridgewater is a small town of 112 in Iowa, with a median household income of $53,542
and a 2.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 83 (US average = 100), which is
17% below the national average.
Strengths:
Bridgewater stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Bridgewater is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Bridgewater city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 83.4
Bridgewater's overall cost of living index is 83.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Bridgewater costs roughly 17% less than the average American city.
Metric
Bridgewater, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$71,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$517
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
84.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$53,542
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Bridgewater's violent crime rate is 125.8 per 100,000 residents
— 67% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
125.8 /100k
Property Crime
307.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Bridgewater, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Bridgewater sees average highs of 29.6°F in January
and 84.3°F in July,
with 36.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 25.5 inches of snow per year.
Bridgewater's cost of living index is 83, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Bridgewater roughly 17% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $71,700 and median rent is $517/month.
Bridgewater's violent crime rate is 125.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 307.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Bridgewater, IA has a population of 112, a median household income of $53,542, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Bridgewater averages 29.6°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.5 inches
with about 25.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Bridgewater, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50837.
The population of Bridgewater, Iowa is 112 with a median age of 38.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Bridgewater: cost of living index 83 (100 = US average), median home $71,700, median household income $53,542, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bridgewater side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
