East Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,440 at the 2020 census. It is also a part of Massachusetts’ 8th congressional district, of which it is represented by Stephen Lynch.

History

The land that is now known as East Bridgewater was first settled by Europeans in 1630 as an outgrowth of the Plymouth and Duxbury plantations. It was a part of Olde Bridgewater, as the “East Parish” founded in 1723, until it officially separated from Bridgewater and incorporated on June 14, 1823.

The town was located on the northern portion of the Taunton River, and had an economy primarily based on agriculture, though industrial development followed. Iron works in the town provided muskets and cannon for the Colonial armies during the American Revolution.

There was more residential development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries along the community’s rail and trolley lines. The famous bank robber Jack Turner had a brother who owned a home in East Bridgewater during the mid-19th century. It is widely believed that Turner had left his fortune there before he was mistakenly shot by Union agents outside of Richmond, Virginia in 1864. Today, East Bridgewater is mostly known as a residential community.

Education

East Bridgewater has its own school system for the town’s approximately 2,500 students. The Central School is just west of the town hall at the town center and serves students from pre-kindergarten through second grade. The Gordon W. Mitchell School, located to the east of the town center, serves third through sixth grade students. East Bridgewater High School is located just east of the town hall, and serves seventh through twelfth grade students.

In addition to public schools, high school students may attend Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton free of charge. There are also private schools in the neighboring communities to the north and south, and the town is the site of the Metro South Academy School, a special needs middle and high school. The town is located near both Massasoit Community College in Brockton and Bridgewater State University.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,974 people, 9,034 households, and 3,392 families residing in the town. The population density was 741.4 inhabitants per square mile (286.3/km²). There were 4,427 housing units at an average density of 256.8 per square mile (99.2/km). The racial makeup of the town was 96.91% White, 0.99% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 4,344 households, out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $60,311, and the median income for a family was $67,307. Males had a median income of $47,370 versus $30,602 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,532. About 2.4% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. An average house in East Bridgewater has 6.2 rooms and is 36 years old with a value of $172,200. 82% of the population owns its residence, 18% rents. 1% of housing space is vacant.

Statistically, East Bridgewater ranks 144th out of 351 communities in the Commonwealth in terms of population, and 134th in terms of population density. The population lies between the average and the median, and the density is just below average. Within Plymouth County, the town ranks fifteenth of 27 towns by population, and twelfth by population density.