What are the schools like in Bridgewater, VA?

Bridgewater is served primarily by Rockingham County Public Schools. The district operates 15 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in Bridgewater?

The median household income in Bridgewater, VA is $72,051 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

What is the weather like in Bridgewater, VA?

Bridgewater has an average high temperature of 42.1°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 19.4 inches.

Bridgewater, VA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bridgewater, VA affordable or expensive?

Bridgewater's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bridgewater is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $333,500 and the median rent is $1,106 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bridgewater, VA?

Bridgewater has a violent crime rate of 29.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 571.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bridgewater, VA a Good Place to Live?

Bridgewater is a small town of 6,575 in Virginia, with a median household income of $72,051 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Bridgewater stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 93.2

Bridgewater's overall cost of living index is 93.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bridgewater costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Bridgewater, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$333,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,106	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$72,051	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Bridgewater's violent crime rate is 29.3 per 100,000 residents — 92% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

29.3 /100k

Property Crime

571.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bridgewater is served primarily by Rockingham County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bridgewater, VA	National Avg
School District	Rockingham County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	15	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	50.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bridgewater sees average highs of 42.1°F in January and 86.0°F in July, with 39.0 inches of annual precipitation and 19.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bridgewater, VA
Average High — January	42.1°F
Average High — July	86.0°F
Annual Precipitation	39.0"
Annual Snowfall	19.4"

Demographics

Metric	Bridgewater, VA	National Avg
Population	6,575	—
Median Age	32.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	18.6%	22.2%
65 and over	19.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mount Crawford, VA 2 mi Dayton, VA 2 mi Belmont Estates, VA 5 mi Harrisonburg, VA 6 mi Massanetta Springs, VA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Bridgewater

Bridgewater, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

22812

Bridgewater vs Other Cities

Bridgewater, VA vs Mount Crawford, VA Bridgewater, VA vs Dayton, VA Bridgewater, VA vs Belmont Estates, VA Bridgewater, VA vs Harrisonburg, VA Bridgewater, VA vs Massanetta Springs, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bridgewater, VA affordable or expensive?

Bridgewater's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Bridgewater roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $333,500 and median rent is $1,106/month.

What is the crime rate in Bridgewater, VA?

Bridgewater's violent crime rate is 29.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 571.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bridgewater?

Public schools in Bridgewater are operated by Rockingham County Public Schools. The district has 15 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 50.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bridgewater, VA a good place to live?

Bridgewater, VA has a population of 6,575, a median household income of $72,051, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Bridgewater?

Bridgewater averages 42.1°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.0 inches with about 19.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bridgewater?

Bridgewater, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 22812.

What is the population of Bridgewater?

The population of Bridgewater, Virginia is 6,575 with a median age of 32.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bridgewater?

Key numbers for living in Bridgewater: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $333,500, median household income $72,051, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. 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.