Bridgewater: Demographics & People
About 6,708 people live in Bridgewater, in 2,179 households. Population grew 0.9% from 6,650 (2022) to 6,708 (2024). Median age 31.4 years. (8.7y younger than Rockingham County; 6.4y younger than Virginia). Children under 18 are 19% of the population. Population is 82% White (non-Hispanic) and 8% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.20). 60% of households are family-led. County is gaining 3,196 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 35% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 3.1 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 40% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 63 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.9% from 6,650 (2022) to 6,708 (2024) — about 1.4× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~6,766 (extrapolated at 0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 6,844.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 83,757 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 6,650 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 6,708 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 6,708 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 6,844 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 31.4y is 7.5 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 19% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 31.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.0% |
| Age Summary · Character | young professional |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 6,708 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,275 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 2,640.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,464.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,329 |
| Population under 18 | 1,275 |
| Median age | 31.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 6,708 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.20 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 5,847 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 275 |
| Asian residents | 58 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 393 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 20.3% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 89.0% |
| Asian population | 1.2% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 4.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 8.2% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 81.5% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 8% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 4,195 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,967 |
| Share born in this state | 62.5% |
| Share born in another state | 37.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 29.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 8.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 593 |
| From Europe | 191 |
| From Asia | 13 |
| From Africa | 241 |
Households & Family Composition
2,179 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 60% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,270 families, 44% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,264 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,270 |
| Married couples with children | 558 |
| Average household size | 2.32 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 10.6% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 976 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 334 |
| Family households | 1,318 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 60.5% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 2,179 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 12.1% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 3,196 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 12.1% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 84,242 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 81,046 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 3,196 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 292 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.6% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 1,599 residents live in group quarters (23.8% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,599 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51165 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 165 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Rockingham |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 13.9% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 11.90 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 16.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51165 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Rockingham County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 3,450 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51165 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Rockingham County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 49.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 43.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 23.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 81,948 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.60 |
| Family Score · Schools | 2 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.0% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 6,708, stable, young professional, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 6,708 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Rockingham County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade