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Bridgewater

Bridgewater, NJ

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What We Love About Bridgewater

  • Above Average Schools
  • Great Area Restaurants
  • Convenient For Commuting
  • Amazing Grocery Stores (Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Wegman’s)
  • Train Station
  • Nice Homes
  • Lower Taxes
  • Strong Economy
  • Great Place To Open A Business

Bridgewater is located in Somerset County, New Jersey

From NYC it takes barely an hour to get here by car. Bridgewater is part of the Skylands region of NJ, which is made up largely of farms, fairs, rivers, mountains, parks, wineries and outdoor activities. Even though you have some rural living, as with most of NJ, you are not far from shopping, groceries, dining and work.

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Ratings and Reviews

Coming soon!

Quick Facts

Bridgewater is located in Somerset County, New Jersey – Skylands Region – an hour from NYC by car.

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Quick facts about Bridgewater:

COMMUTE TIME (Hour:Minutes) ⓘ

These times are based on info from New Jersey Transit and Google Maps. Shortest times are given. Use our map above to calculate more accurate commute times to any address.
0:50+

Car ride to NYC.

1:15+

Train service to NYC.

2:00+

Bus service to NYC.

SIZE ⓘ

People per square mile gives you an idea of how much breathing room a town has. NYC has around 27,000 while a well equipped walkable town might have around 5,000. Smaller towns with more single family homes and large yards usually have under 1,000. Click on more info below to see where we get our data. 
43,968

Population estimate, July 1, 2019

32.04

Square miles

1,388

People per square mile

HOUSING ⓘ

Median cost to rent or own is basically the average cost of renting or owning per month in any given town. It’s not exact. Median values include the most expensive dwellings and the cheapest dwellings all averaged together, but with some weight added to higher concentrations in the data set. Just gives you some basic basis of comparison between towns. Click on more info below to see where we get our data.

$1,648

Median gross rent, 2014-2018

$2,813

Median selected monthly owner costs – with a mortgage, 2014-2018

$476,800

Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2014-2018

PROPERTY TAX ⓘ

Approximate tax on $100K of home value. Ex: If you pay $500K for a house, multiply the number in the left column by 5 to get an idea of what you will have to pay each year in property taxes.

$2,075

Property taxes per $100,000 in home value.

Compare tax rates in the Bridgewater area.

EDUCATION ⓘ

Gives you the ability to quickly see how much of a town has graduated from high school or higher ed. Click on more info below to see where we get our data.
95.7%

High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2014-2018

57.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2014-2018

INCOME ⓘ

Gives you an idea of how much people make in this town compared to other towns you look at. Click on more info below to see where we get our data.

$126,743

Median household income (in 2018 dollars), 2014-2018

AGE DISTRIBUTION ⓘ

Gives you an idea of how old your neighbors might be. Click on more info below to see where we get our data.
23.0%

Persons under 18 years

16.1%

Persons 65 years and over

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE STATS & INFO ON RACE, INCOME AND HOUSING

See more stats on race, income and housing (Hint: Sort by using the “All Topics” pull down menu)
See more stats on property taxes in NJ (green is lower, red is higher)
Does it flood? (FEMA flood maps)

Local Events Calendar

There’s a lot going on in the area. Come to a local event and share in the fun with the whole family! Here’s what’s going on around Somerset County this month

Schools

Schools in Bridgewater are considered above average.

See the school scores

Walk & Bike Score

NOTE: All scores over 50 are actually good! Scores under 50 mean you would have a more difficult time

See walking and biking scores

Rate Your Own Town

Coming soon! – Do you live here or in NJ? Let the world know what you love about your town.

Local Political Climate

Historically New Jersey has elected more Republicans to office; however, in recent elections conservatives are being edged out somewhat, in part because there are fewer registered Republicans than Democrats in most of the state. About 80% of the counties have more registered Democrats than Republicans, but elections are still tight. In general Republicans are better at getting out the vote on election night than Democrats.

Somerset County Voting Results by Town

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School Scores – click on schools please

Walking and Biking Score – any score over 50 is good​

The Full Story of Bridgewater, NJ

What is it like living in Bridgewater, NJ?

UPSCALE SUBURBAN LIVING, TOP-NOTCH SCHOOLS, WITH WIDE RANGE OF HOUSING OPTIONS AND LOW TAXES

Bridgewater is all about upscale suburban living with top-notch schools, a wide range of housing options, lower taxes than many other towns within an hour of NYC (including Long Island, Westchester, Northern New Jersey and Connecticut) and is the shopping Mecca of the area with its own upscale mall, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Wegman’s and more. The Bridgewater Commons Mall has a movie theater with in-theater ordering and dining, Macys, Apple Store, Victoria’s Secret and more. 

Although most of Bridgewater Township isn’t very walkable and doesn’t have its own downtown (other than the mall) it has within its borders many thriving subsections, and if you zoom into the map you will notice that Somerville and Raritan, both quite walkable, are surrounded by Bridgewater like a hug. Bridgewater even shares the school district with Raritan.

Bridgewater also has great homes, amazing access to transportation and above average schools. 

That’s Bridgewater in a nutshell!

Click to read more

In the heart of central New Jersey, Bridgewater is a relatively large, generally upscale town that sports a diverse housing stock. The township is renowned for its excellent public schools, easily-accessible shopping and conveniences, a commuter railroad station to Newark and New York City, a robust local job market, and proximity to cultural and sporting venues and outdoor recreation. While Bridgewater does not boast a true town center, what it lacks in walkability is made up by easy driving distance to the thriving downtown of neighboring Somerville and the popular, upscale Bridgewater Commons Mall. Most neighborhoods are close to entrances to major county and state highways like I-287, I-78, and Routes 202, 206, and 22, somewhat easing the rush hour commute. 

 

The Appeal: 

Bridgewater residents appreciate the variety and easy accessibility of retail, cultural, and sports offerings, the excellent public schools, local job opportunities particularly in the pharmaceutical, communications, and technology sectors, and reasonable commuting time to New York City and surrounding commercial centers. All these conveniences are enjoyed without the cramped and crowded feel of the suburbs to the east and north closer to NYC and while retaining more of the country living sensibility and agricultural legacy of rural towns to the west. Compared to suburbs closer to NYC, Bridgewater’s homes are larger, with garages and off-street parking, sizable front and back yards, and in most cases both attics and basements that can be used as storage or living spaces. For these reasons the town has attracted families from NYC, suburbs of Northern NJ, and abroad for decades. The more recent influx of East Asian, South Asian, and Hispanic immigrant families has increased the cultural diversity of the town and its public schools, providing a more enriching experience for suburban kids. Housing exists across a huge spectrum of size and price ranges, coupled with relatively low tax rates compared to other upscale towns in central and North Jersey. The quality of life is a big part of the draw, with parks, farmers markets, nearby rural countryside with fresh, local produce, easy shopping (but requiring driving), loads of regional cultural activities, and Jersey shore beaches only an hour away.

 

Housing: 

The location, low taxes and amenities makes Bridgewater an attractive longer term home investment opportunity for newcomers. Homes cover a wide range of sizes and prices, from apartments and condos to 2 and 3 bedroom SF homes in the $200-400K range, a wide middle range of 3-5 bedroom homes in the $400-800K range, and large homes in the $1 million and over price range in upscale neighborhoods like Martinsville. Property tax on an approximately $450,000 priced house of 2,000 square feet on a 1-acre lot is in the $9,200/year range (of which school tax is $6,313). 

 

Local Employment:

Bridgewater and neighboring towns are home to a number of employment sectors, including:

Pharmaceutical companies, such as Sanofi-Aventis, Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson subsidiary), Janssen (part of J&J), Ortho-McNeil, Roche, and Merck

Life science and biotechnology companies, including newcomer Insmed and planned life sciences technology center on Route 206  

Financial and insurance companies like MetLife, Aon Hewitt, and Merrill Lynch. 

Technology companies, such as Qualcomm, Juniper Networks, Cognizant, and Linde North America

Health care sector, including nearby Lab Corp and a dizzying array of doctor, dentist, and physical therapy offices across the spectrum of medical specialties. The Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset (located in neighboring Somerville) is associated with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of Newark and includes Emergency Room services. A recent addition to the hospital (first to install in New Jersey) are multiple ElectroClaves which use UV-C LEDs to sanitize mobile devices to prevent transmission of harmful bacteria and viruses to patients without harming the electronic device. The facility added in recent times the Steeplechase Cancer Center which also provides alternative therapies and free public medical lectures. 

Higher education institutions, including Raritan Valley Community College, Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers-Newark, Princeton University, Montclair University, and Kean University, are all within a 1-hour drive

County government and legal professional offices are located nearby in Somerville

A number of these firms are in the Somerset Corporate Center (SCC), which leases office space. Oracle is said to be moving in as well in future. AT&T and Verizon Wireless are in the area. Corporations are also attracted by access from major state and interstate highways, including Routes 202/206, I-78, and I-287. There are several major airports within 60 miles of Bridgewater. They include Newark Liberty, JFK, LaGuardia and Philadelphia International and a number of closer secondary airports. Newark is by far the closest and easiest to use. Getting to and from LaGuardia and JFK can be time consuming and complicated especially using public transportation. 

 

Schools:

Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School district’s highly rated and regarded public school system is a central attraction for newcomers wanting a college preparatory system often considered equivalent to private secondary schools, which also abound.

According to a leading scoring website, the district is 4th best in Somerset county with an overall rating of A+, and it gets an A+ in academics, and college preparation. Teachers and sports are A-rated, and the district gets a B in diversity and B+ in food.  Student-to-teacher ratio is very good at 11 to 1 vs. 17 to 1 nationally. It is ranked at 22nd best in NJ and 288th nationally.

There are seven primary schools (pre-k thru 4th grade) serving children at the neighborhood level; these vary in size from 300-600 students. There are two intermediate schools (5-6th grades) of 600-800 students. Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School (7-8th grades) serves 1300 students from both neighboring towns. Bridgewater-Raritan High School has an attractive multi-building campus that serves 2,800 students from both towns. BRHS offers a wide range of Advanced Placement classes, dual enrollment courses with the local community college (Raritan Valley Community College), well-regarded sports and music programs, and a wide range of career preparation and extracurricular activities.

The Somerset County Vocational Technical High School, whose campus is located in Bridgewater, serves 350 full time and 450 shared time students from the entire county. Career and technical education is provided in a range of programs, such as health & medical, building trades/construction, culinary, law/public safety, and more.

Well-regarded private schools in the area include the Pingry School, Rutgers Preparatory, Gill St. Bernards, and the Willow School. Local parochial schools include Immaculate Conception (up to 8th), Immaculata High School, St. Ann’s (in Raritan; pre-k to 8th), and Christ the King (in Manville; pre-k to 8th).

Many options for pre-school (private, Montessori, etc) exist in Bridgewater and the surrounding area.

College-aged children can live at home and commute to Rutgers University, Kean University, or Montclair University. Other public and private higher education institutions, such as Princeton University, Stockton College, Ramapo University, Rider University, Centenary University, and others are within a 1-2 hour drive. Many Bridgewater students begin their college careers at nearby Raritan Valley Community College, which is nationally recognized for its academic, transfer-oriented programs as well as newly expanded workforce training options. 

 

Agriculture:

Farmers markets spring to life each summer and fall in the surrounding towns selling famous Jersey fresh corn, tomatoes, and peaches, with larger markets in Chester and Oldwick within a 30-minute drive from Bridgewater. The Somerset County 4H Fair is a traditional agricultural fair, featuring horse and dog shows, animals raised by local children, and entertainment over a three-day period in August held at North Branch Park. Agritourism opportunities are increasing, with summer corn and peach and fall apple festivals and family-friendly activities held at farms and orchards like Terhune Orchards and Alstede Farms, which is 30 minutes by car. 

 

Parks and Recreation: 

There are numerous small parks around town, such as Duke Island Park, North Branch Park, Washington Valley Park, and Washington Rock State Park, a scenic outlook where General George Washington observed the movement of British troops during the Revolutionary War. The town also includes sporting venues like the Green Knoll Tennis Center, Bridgewater YMCA swimming pool, and Bridgewater Sports Arena. Several town parks include playgrounds, public swimming pools, and splash parks. Parks and open spaces offering a range of recreational experiences are found throughout Somerset County. A notable example includes Duke Farms, which features paved and unpaved walking trails, an orchid greenhouse, bicycle rentals, a community garden, a farm to table cafe, and numerous environmental education classes for all ages as well as family-friendly events. Additional county, state, and federal parks, such as Round Valley Reservoir, Hacklebarney State Park, the Delaware Water Gap, the Pine Barrens, and Gateway National Recreation Area, are within a 1-2 hour drive, and offer picnicking, camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and other outdoor experiences. 

 

Surrounding Area: 

If you’ve only seen the TV show, the Jersey Shore is a punchline, but it’s revered to native New Jerseyans. Each shore town has its own feel and appeal, so your job is to find the right fit. Within a one or so hour drive are shore towns like Point Pleasant whose boardwalk amusements cater to families, others like Asbury Park that draw in the hipster crowd with more sophisticated restaurants and concert venues, and others like Sandy Hook and Island Beach State Park that offer a more nature-based experience.  

On the western side of the state are the Delaware River towns, such as Frenchtown, Lambertville, and New Hope, PA, which are a 45-minute drive from Bridgewater. These towns feature vibrant arts and dining scenes and are great places to pick up antiques and other unique novelties at the wide range of family-owned gift stores, bookstores, record stores, and clothing stores before hitting the bars and brew pubs.

 

Library: 

The Bridgewater Public Library is part of the larger Somerset County Library System which has its main branch in Bridgewater. A convenient mobile app allows you to search the SCLS collection for books, films, music and more, put items on hold, and indicate the branch where you prefer to pick up your hold items. The county libraries feature a robust reference collection, free internet access, meeting spaces, and public programs and workshops for all ages.

 

Restaurants:  

The Bridgewater Commons Mall has a food court and a number of full-service restaurants. Both family-owned and chain restaurants, from fast food to very upscale, can be found along major thoroughfares. Neighboring Somerville is a regional destination for dining, boasting a wide range of family-owned restaurants. Dining options along Main Street include Greek, Italian, Thai, sushi, seafood, steak house, Irish pub, Chinese, Costa Rican, Indian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, New American, pizzerias, delis, bakeries, coffee shops, ice cream shops, and a new brewery. Several Jersey-style 24-hour diners also dot the area around town.

 

Cultural Attractions:

In the immediate area cultural events can be found at the Raritan Valley Community College Theater and Planetarium (10 minutes), Princeton’s McCarter Theater (30 minutes), The State Theater and George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick (20 minutes). Princeton and Rutgers Universities offer museums, concert halls, theaters, film screenings, and collegiate sports. Additional venues, such as the NJ Performing Arts Center (Newark), Mayo Performing Arts Center (Morristown), PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel), and more offer summer or year-round concerts and events. Several community theaters and playhouses are found within a 30-minute drive of town. There is much more in the Skylands region to see and do. We will be adding more as we go. Sign up for our newsletter and we will let you know as we add new info and features. 

 

Healthcare and Government Services:

As the County Seat of Somerset, neighboring Somerville is the site of the modern County Administrative office building for county-wide services. Professional offices related to government services are located within the surrounding blocks. The Classical Revival style Somerset County Courthouse is located directly on Main Street in Somerville and is surrounded by numerous law offices in the downtown area and in surrounding towns. Medical, dental and other professional offices have long existed on Main Street just outside of the downtown area, and bank branches are in profusion. The Robert Wood Johnson/Barnabas Health Center focuses much of the medical community into Bridgewater though many medical offices are spread throughout surrounding towns.  New Medical offices have opened along Route 22 in modern office buildings offering many types of high-tech outpatient procedures as well. 

 

The Commute (Getting to NYC and Newark):

Many local residents commute to NYC and Newark via NJ Transit from train stations in both Bridgewater and Somerville; the trip takes a little over an hour to NY Penn Station. Some rides in rush hour are 1-seat (no need to transfer to another train along the way) to/from NY Penn Station, but most require a change at Newark.

 

The commute costs are as follows:

As of 1/1/2020 fares to NYC by NJ Transit: Raritan Valley line:

Adult 1 way ………………………. $15.25
Child/senior/etc. one-way…….. $7.10
Weekly ……………………………. $135.00
Ten trips  ………………………… $152.50
Monthly……………………………. $445.00
Student monthly…………………. $334.00

 

The train station has a large parking lot. Daily and permit parking starts at $4/day, $150/quarter, $275/6 months, or $500/year.

By car the shortest driving time to NYC is about 50 minutes. The shortest time into the city by rail is about 78 mins, but the shortest return trip back from NY Penn St. is only 67 mins. Bridge tolls to NYC are pricey, but they charge less during peak traffic hours. 

Bridgewater is at a crossroads of major state and interstate highways, including I-287, I-78, and Routes 22, 202, 206, and 28. Congestion is not uncommon during morning and afternoon rush hours.

Time to Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 35-45 minutes with no traffic.

Bus service to NYC? Yes (express). Time: 1:10+

Neighborhoods

Bradley Gardens – Near large park and elementary schools – cute homes – mostly affordable

Finderne – more affordable homes – slightly industrial – close to train station and highways

Green Knoll – nice suburban homes and cul de sacs – rural feel

Martinsville – small town feel – nicer homes – schools

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The information provided on this site is for promotional purposes. Not all statements are verified before publishing. It is strongly suggested that always contact the school district and the local municipality directly to verify important information before deciding to move or buy in that location. LovableTowns does not discriminate against any state or federally protected class as it relates to Fair Housing Act and The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD).
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