Massachusetts Real Estate & Relocation Guide

West Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Population: 6,634

Located in Plymouth County

West Bridgewater is a small, warm, residential community located at the junction of Routes 24 and 106. The town's accessibility to neighboring areas is one of its biggest assets. It is handy to Route 495's industrial belt, as well as a 25 minute jaunt from either Boston, Providence, or Cape Cod. The town has shrewdly kept aside industrial areas on the outskirts of town near the highways, to keep its tax rate attractive to the residents--as well as keep it's tree lined streets purely residential. The town is predominantly single family homes, with no condominiums and very few multi-family dwellings. There are still working farms, which contribute to its rural character.

Most of the "old families" from the Town's history still have generations of family members living in the old homesteads, or at least within the town's boundaries. For those loving antiques, West Bridgewater has many quaint shopping opportunities. The War Memorial Park and Town River, are the most scenic spots, and have been continually restored by volunteers.

The town is 15 square miles, with a population of approximately 7,000 people. West Bridgewater's business matters are handled by Open Town Meeting, and a 3-member Board of Selectmen. There are full-time police and fire departments and a top quality emergency service division with several Paramedics/EMTs.

West Bridgewater is replete with dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers eager to preserve and beautify this popular small town. Volunteers on the Beautification Committee "adopt" the town's traffic islands, with planting and maintenance throughout the warm weather. Friendship Park Playground was built a few years ago, adjacent to the new library, and it is always full of excited young children, who play while the parents socialize with their neighbors. There is an active Historical Society, plus an active Council on Aging with many activities for seniors. There are 3 residential areas strictly for those over 55, whose residents make up nearly a quarter of the
Town's population.

Summers offer a series of free band concerts at the Gazebo, and an annual Town Park fair, and active town sports teams. There is a golf course, a driving range, and town tennis courts. Although there are small shopping plazas and grocery stores within the town, residents have the convenience of full scale enclosed malls just 10 minutes down the highway.

West Bridgewater is part of the Southeastern Regional Vo-Tech district, and students wishing to pursue a trade, may opt to enroll there as an option to the High School. West Bridgewater has a highly rated school system, with small class sizes being one of its many advantages. While other towns have had to build more and more schools to accommodate its growing population (and of course increase the tax rate accordingly), West Bridgewater has remodeled and updated its existing schools, without having to build more. And because the population has stayed small (some of the graduating classes have 100 children or less!), the education grants and funding allow the town to spend more of its money on the children's direct education, rather than bricks and mortar. Per-student, West Bridgewater has higher spending than most of its surrounding towns, yet retains one of the lowest property tax rates.

If you'd like to have a variety of wholesome opportunities for raising your family, then West Bridgewater is definitely worth your consideration. Take in a band concert, visit one of the many ice cream stands, take a canoe ride down the Town River, visit a local farm for a hayride, watch the kids play on the Town softball or soccer teams, go play a round of golf (or mini golf), shop for antiques, enjoy a cup of coffee with your neighbors at one of the many family restaurants or coffee shops, or take a leisurely stroll through a historical cemetery and immerse yourself in history.

If you want to get back to a small town, and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere-- life the way it used to be, then come home to West Bridgewater!