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Bridgewater Central Square, MassachusettsPhoto: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0
Town Hall · Bridgewater Town

Bridgewater Town spent less per resident in 2022 than 69% of similar towns

Bridgewater Town’s town government spent $33.5 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $1,219 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Next public meeting

General

6:00 pm

All meetings →
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$33.5M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$1,219
In 2022: $1,219, less than 69% of 16 similar towns
Long-term debt
$19.0M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
161
full-time · 96 part-time · March payroll $1.3M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$6,499
1.22% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Bridgewater Town is run

Read from the town’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends less than most similar townsIn 2022: $1,219 per resident, less than 69% of 16 similar towns.A shared school districtShares Bridgewater-Raynham School District with 1 other town.Its own police and fire39 sworn officers and 52 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Bridgewater Town’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2022 budget

About $1,219 per resident a year, or $3.34 a day

Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: fire, at 20%.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 72%Fees & charges 9%From the state 8%Utility sales 5%From the federal government 3%Other taxes & licenses 2%Interest, fines & other 1%Sales taxes 1%From other local governments <1%
Not in the receipt.Building projects $16.6 million; interest on debt $665,000; payments to other governments $37.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $90 million.
About “Other”.32% of Bridgewater Town’s day-to-day spending ($10.6 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$1,219 per resident in 2022: less than 69% of them

Bridgewater Town’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,219 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 16 Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,371, and the middle half spent $1,198–$1,673. Bridgewater Town spent less than 69% of them.

Middle half of the group, $1,198–$1,673Median $1,371Bridgewater Town

Includes sewer and trash ($2 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
16

Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Bridgewater Town itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Bridgewater Town reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $6,499 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.22% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Halifax$6,840
Raynham$6,752
Raynham Center$6,654
East Bridgewater$6,522
Bridgewater Town$6,499
West Bridgewater$6,471
Middleborough$6,023
Massachusetts$5,992
$6,499
typical bill a year
1.22%
effective rate
$533,100
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Bridgewater Town’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Bridgewater Town’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Bridgewater Town →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Bridgewater Town

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See bridgewaterma.org for Bridgewater Town’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Bridgewater Town yet.bridgewaterma.org ↗
Who works for Bridgewater Town

One full-time town employee for every 171 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (27,478).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Fire54
Police41 + 25 pt
Parks & libraries11 + 46 pt
Administration & buildings15 + 5 pt
Roads & transportation11 + 7 pt
Sewer & trash8
Health & welfare4 + 6 pt
Water & other utilities7
Housing & development2 + 4 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections2
Other6 + 3 pt
161
full-time
96
part-time
$1.3M
payroll for March 2022
$15.7M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$92,600
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
39
sworn police officers
52
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Bridgewater Town didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Bridgewater-Raynham School District

Bridgewater Town’s K–12 school district, shared with Raynham. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.

Schools in Bridgewater Town →
$18,006
per pupil · MA $26,530
5,582
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $18,006 per pupil, $10,685 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 55%State 39%Federal 6%

Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Bridgewater Town voted in 2024

Official results for Bridgewater Town’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President14,484 votes · results as certified
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican49.1%7,118 votes
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat48.8%7,070 votes

Others: 2.0% (296 votes).

Most votes in Bridgewater Town: Donald J Trump

Plymouth County: Harris 53.3%, Trump 44.5% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
64%

of Bridgewater Town’s 22,652 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate14,279 votes
John DeatonRepublican54.0%
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat45.9%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Bridgewater Town: John Deaton

Plymouth County: Deaton 50.0%, Warren 49.9% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 9th District446,395 votes
Bill KeatingDemocrat56.4%
Dan SullivanRepublican43.4%
Others0.1%

Most votes in the district: Bill Keating

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Bridgewater Town, its county and the state

TrumpHarrisOthersVotes
Bridgewater Town49.1%48.8%2.0%14,484
Plymouth County44.5%53.3%2.2%300,129
Massachusetts36.0%61.2%2.8%3,473,668
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Bridgewater Town

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Bridgewater Town.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
    Officials: bridgewaterma.org ↗
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
    Dennis Gallagher
  3. 3
    Massachusetts SenateState senator
    Bill Driscoll
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Maura Healey
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    William R. Keating
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
    Elizabeth WarrenEdward J. Markey

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Bridgewater Town compares with the towns next door

Bridgewater Town spent $1,219 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,509 to $5,412. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Middleborough: $3,833 per resident (2022)East Bridgewater: $4,119 per resident (2022)Halifax: $2,677 per resident (2022)Raynham: $1,509 per resident (2022)West Bridgewater: $5,412 per resident (2022)Raynham Center: unincorporated, no town budgetMiddleboroughEast BridgewaterHalifaxRaynhamWest BridgewaterRaynham CenterBridgewater Town
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Raynham$1,509$6,752
Halifax$2,677 runs schools$6,840
Middleborough$3,833 runs schools$6,023
East Bridgewater$4,119 runs schools$6,522
West Bridgewater$5,412 runs schools$6,471
Bridgewater Town$1,219$6,499

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Bridgewater Town’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitebridgewaterma.org ↗

Questions about Bridgewater Town’s government

How much does Bridgewater Town spend per resident?

About $1,219 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,219 was less than 69% of 16 Massachusetts towns and townships of 25,000–49,999 that don’t run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Bridgewater Town?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,499 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.22% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see bridgewaterma.org.

Who runs Bridgewater Town’s government?

See bridgewaterma.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Bridgewater Town yet.

How did Bridgewater Town vote in 2024?

For president, Donald J Trump 49.1%, Kamala D Harris 48.8% (14,484 votes, official results). Plymouth County: Harris 53.3%, Trump 44.5%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Bridgewater Town?

161 full-time and 96 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $1.3M (about $15.7M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Bridgewater Town in the state legislature?

State Senate District Norfolk-Plymouth-Bristol (Bill Driscoll) and State House District 8th Plymouth (Dennis Gallagher). The House district also covers 1 neighboring town. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Bridgewater Town?

The next posted meeting is General on Wednesday, November 4, at 6:00 pm, from the town’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Bridgewater Town’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →