Bridgewater Profile

Explore population, households, income, employment, languages, and dwellings for Bridgewater. Compare trends since 2016 and dig into the full demographic profile below.

National Rank:457 of 688

Level:Census subdivision

Bridgewater Population

Total Population (2021)

8,790

Total Population (2016)

8,532

Population Growth

+3.0% (+258)

Growth Rank

#434 of 688Same geo level

Male

46.3%4,070

Female

53.6%4,715

Male-to-Female Ratio

0.863

Average Age

48.5

Median Age

51.6

Age Rank

#606 of 688Same geo level

Population Age Distribution

0–4

325(3.7%)

5–9

335(3.8%)

10–14

380(4.3%)

15–19

380(4.3%)

20–24

470(5.3%)

25–29

460(5.2%)

30–34

460(5.2%)

35–39

495(5.6%)

40–44

435(4.9%)

45–49

450(5.1%)

50–54

570(6.5%)

55–59

690(7.8%)

60–64

705(8.0%)

65–69

655(7.5%)

70–74

635(7.2%)

75–79

495(5.6%)

80–84

425(4.8%)

85+

430(4.9%)

Bridgewater Households

Household Size

Average Household Size

2.0

Total Private Dwellings

4,493

Occupied Private Dwellings

4,260

Size Distribution

1 Person

1,655 (38.8%)

2 Persons

1,645 (38.6%)

3 Persons

500 (11.7%)

4 Persons

320 (7.5%)

5+ Persons

140 (3.3%)

Household Composition

Couples with children

640(15.0%)

Couples without children

1,215(28.5%)

One-parent families

415(9.7%)

One-person households

1,655(38.8%)

Multigenerational

55(1.3%)

Multiple-family

5(0.1%)

Bridgewater Incomes

Summary

Avg. Household Income

$59,350After tax

Median Household Income

$51,600After tax

Avg. Individual Income

$34,720After tax

Median Individual Income

$30,600After tax

Income Rank

#665 of 688Same geo level

Income Composition

Market Income

73.6%

Employment Income

57.6%

Government Transfers

26.4%

Individual Income Distribution

Under $10k

590(8.1%)

$10k–$20k

1,040(14.2%)

$20k–$30k

1,620(22.2%)

$30k–$40k

1,105(15.1%)

$40k–$50k

875(12.0%)

$50k–$60k

575(7.9%)

$60k–$70k

440(6.0%)

$70k–$80k

295(4.0%)

$80k–$90k

245(3.4%)

$90k–$100k

165(2.3%)

$100k+

350(4.8%)

Bridgewater Employment

Labour Force

Employment Rate

46.4%

Unemployment Rate

12.3%

Total Labour Force

3,945

Employed

3,460

Unemployed

485

Not in Labour Force

3,510

Low Income Prevalence

Overall Low-Income Rate

18.8%

Children (0–17)

20.6%

Adults (18–64)

15.9%

Seniors (65+)

23.6%

Gini Coefficient (Total)

0.3170 = perfect equality

Gini Coefficient (After-Tax)

0.275

Bridgewater Languages

Language Knowledge

English Only

7,920 (92.0%)

English & French

670 (7.8%)

Neither

20 (0.2%)

Mother Tongue

English

7,975 (92.7%)

French

110 (1.3%)

Non-official languages

400 (4.6%)

Top Mother Tongue Languages

English

7,975(92.7%)

French

110(1.3%)

Punjabi

70(0.8%)

Tagalog

30(0.3%)

Mandarin

25(0.3%)

Spanish

25(0.3%)

Korean

25(0.3%)

German

20(0.2%)

Arabic

15(0.2%)

Hindi

15(0.2%)

Bridgewater Dwellings

Dwelling Type

Single-detached

2,050(48.1%)

Semi-detached

210(4.9%)

Row house

95(2.2%)

Duplex

120(2.8%)

Apt. < 5 storeys

1,240(29.1%)

Apt. ≥ 5 storeys

35(0.8%)

Other attached

15(0.4%)

Movable

490(11.5%)

Community snapshot

About Bridgewater

Bridgewater is a town on the LaHave River in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, inland from the South Shore fishing ports. A regional commercial centre—often called the main street of the South Shore—it has a riverfront downtown, mills heritage, and services for surrounding rural communities. About 9,000 people live in Bridgewater.

Known for

Largest South Shore inland service town on the LaHave
Riverfront downtown and mills heritage
Commercial hub for Lunenburg County countryside
DesBrisay Museum and local history
Highway 103 corridor community

See & do

LaHave River waterfront / downtown
Shops and parks along the tidal river.
DesBrisay Museum
Lunenburg County history and collections in town.
Wile Carding Mill Provincial Museum
Working 19th-century mill on a brook in Bridgewater.
Woodland Gardens / town parks
Green space and trails in the town.
Drives toward Lunenburg and the Aspotogan
Short trips to UNESCO Lunenburg and South Shore harbours.

Data source → Census methodology & attribution

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Data source → Census methodology & attribution