The Town FilesBridgewater, South Dakota
City in McCook County · population 511 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,100
- Household income
- $47,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 48.7
Bridgewater is a city of 511 people in McCook County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $116,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of South Dakota towns, better for families than 85% of South Dakota towns, more upscale than 75% of South Dakota towns.
How Bridgewater ranks
Percentile among South Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bridgewater is worth $116,100, below the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $47,083, which is more affordable than 59% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $729 a month. 72.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bridgewater | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,100 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $729 | $785 |
| Median household income | $47,083 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.0% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bridgewater
| People | Bridgewater | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.0% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Bridgewater
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.7°F. About 27.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.2 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bridgewater since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 26, 1965 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 14, 1970.
Severe weather in McCook County since 1996
McCook County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4656: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McCook County
McCook County had 1,338 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,576 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Bridgewater itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Bridgewater
1 public school with 159 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater-Emery Elementary - 02 | PK-5 | 159 | 13.3 |
Towns near Bridgewater
- Canistota, SD10.8 mi · 631 people · home $137,000
- Salem, SD13.1 mi · 1,325 people · home $166,700
- Freeman, SD14.4 mi · 1,329 people · home $164,200
- Marion, SD14.8 mi · 849 people · home $164,500
- Alexandria, SD15.8 mi · 649 people · home $180,200
- Parker, SD21.1 mi · 1,194 people · home $231,100
- Menno, SD21.9 mi · 614 people · home $111,500
- Humboldt, SD22.2 mi · 579 people · home $227,700
Bridgewater questions
Is Bridgewater, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bridgewater scores better for retirees than 56% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 73%. 31.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.7).
How much does a house cost in Bridgewater?
The median owner-occupied home in Bridgewater is valued at $116,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,083, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $729 a month.
What is the weather like in Bridgewater?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 37.2 inches of snow.
Does Bridgewater get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bridgewater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 26, 1965. The typical South Dakota town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)