Pebblewood Country Club, 2010
Bridgman’s story
156 years in pictures
Census counts: 194 in 1880, 2,096 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 2 maps from 1930 on.
- 1870Bridgman is settled
BridgmanMI
A town of 2,040, settled in 1870. Public schools that outperform most of Michigan.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Forevercry · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
2,040
2025 Census estimate · −2.6% since 2020
Typical home
$321K
+6.2% in a year
Household income
$67K
median
Median age
45.5
years
Jobs based here
912
Balanced
Is Bridgman a good place to live?
Bridgman’s best subject grades are an A for schools and the outdoors and an A− for safety; its weakest is a C for cost of living. 30% of residents are 65 or older in Bridgman, above both the Michigan town median (19%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). Bridgman is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 74% of U.S. towns. 21% of the land in Bridgman is conserved, against 4.4% in Michigan’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. On the outdoors, just 101 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns do better. The biggest park or preserve is Warren Dunes State Park, at 342 acres. Bridgman has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Bridgman stand out
Where Bridgman beats most towns.
Bridgman Public Schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgman Elementary School | PK–4 | 309 |
| Bridgman High School | 9–12 | 239 |
SchoolsA
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
OutdoorsA
1.0 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves
Biggest place to walk: Warren Dunes State Park, 0.7 mi of trail.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
How Bridgman grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Bridgman is from typical.
SchoolsAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 15% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SafetyA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.9 of 20; 7.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →Cost of livingCOpen →Jobs & income$67K median household incomeCOpen →HealthLakeland Hospital, St. Joseph 11.7 miles awayBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trailAOpen →History1 notable person born hereC+Open →Civic life3.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Bridgman: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bridgman, and how to reach them.
PowerMidwest Energy Cooperative19.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBridgman water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Bridgman’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBridgman City ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4910649106 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bridgman.
SchoolsA
Bridgman’s public schools outperform 93% of Michigan districts
Its public schools are run by the Bridgman Public Schools. Its two schools are below.
93%of MI districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgman Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 309 | A+ |
| Bridgman High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 239 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
SafetyA−
Less crime per resident in Bridgman than in 82% of U.S. towns
Bridgman’s violent crime rate is 1 per 1,000 residents.
82%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Bridgman | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.4 per 1,000 residents | 7.9 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Bridgman1
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Bridgman7.4
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
82nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
15
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Bridgman
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 85% of U.S. communities. Since 1980, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Bridgman.
15risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 1980
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
21.1%conserved
21.1%
conserved · 393 of 1,864 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Warren Dunes State Park | 0.7 mi | 342 |
| 2. Weko Beach Recreational Area | 0.3 mi | 49 |
| 3. Southwest Michigan Underwater Preserve | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who lives here
Older than Michigan overall
35% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Bridgman. Bridgman has lost 2.6% of its people since 2020, down to 2,040 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. The median age in Bridgman is 45.5 years.
45.5median age · MI 40.2
| Bridgman | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 35% | 26% | 29% |
BridgmanMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
21%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school24%
Some college22%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
47% women, 53% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6.3 points. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women. Among residents 45 to 54, 78% are men (MI 50%).
| Bridgman | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.4% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.1% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.3% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.5% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 21.1% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.7% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.6% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.4% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.4% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.1% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.4% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,000, single groups can be off by several points
HousingCost of living grade C
Bridgman’s typical home value is about $321K
The typical Bridgman home is worth about $321,000, up 6.2% in a year, 21% above the Michigan typical home. 70% of Bridgman households own their home.
$321KZillow home value
| Bridgman | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 70% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,008 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Bridgman$321K
Michigan$264K
+6.2%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Bridgman has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Bridgman has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 20° and about 78 inches of snow falls in a winter.
78″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter22–35°
Spring39–57°
Summer62–80°
Fall45–62°
Oct 17
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Most working residents commute out of Bridgman
Most working residents leave Bridgman for work: only 9% work in town. Since 2011, Bridgman has lost 1,091 jobs, to 912 in 2021. The top destinations are Lake Township (10%), St.
9%work in town
| Bridgman | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 9% | 5.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Bridgman9%
Lake Township10%
St. Joseph9%
Lincoln Township7%
Benton Township6%
12 mi
median commute distance
912
jobs based in Bridgman
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 74% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Bridgman is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns
Bridgman beats the Michigan average on 6 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
60%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Bridgman | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 36% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 18% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 17% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 27% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
6 better24 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Bridgman | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.6% | 15.4% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8.3% | 11.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.6% | 8.9% |
Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph
11.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 139 attractions →Notre Dame Stadium and 15 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Bridgman. Close and well known come first.
Big draw24 mi Stadium & arenaNotre Dame Stadium
24 mi National ParkIndiana Dunes National Park2.6M visitors a year
2 mi State parkWarren Dunes State Park
23 mi CaveGrotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Notre Dame
18 mi Ancient siteFort St. Joseph
24 mi MuseumStudebaker National MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Notre Dame Stadium: Tysto, Public domain · Indiana Dunes National Park: J. Crocker, Attribution · Warren Dunes State Park: hakkun, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Notre Dame: Know1one1, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort St. Joseph: Chris Light (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Studebaker National Museum: Unknown, Public domain
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bridgman
20pages on Bridgman
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 93% of MI districts · 2 schoolsSafetyA−1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than MI on 6 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$321K typical home · up 6.2% in a yearWork & commuteC$67K median household income · 912 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 15% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Bridgman
Andrews UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Berrien Springs11 mi$35,056 tuitionLake Michigan CollegeCommunity college · Public · Benton Harbor14.3 mi$5,445 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Bridgman residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
About Bridgman
City in Michigan, United States
Bridgman is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,096 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1870
- Area
- 2.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 679 ft
- ZIP code
- 49106
- Area code
- 269
Bridgman’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Bridgman.
Lake TownshipBridgman
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgman | — | — | C | A− | A | B |
| Lake Township | #312 | B | C− | — | A | B |
Bridgman has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Lake Township reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Bridgman with a neighbor →
Questions about Bridgman
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bridgman, MI a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of Michigan.
Is Bridgman, MI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.