Bridgewater Named Among 50 Best Places to Live in America

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater was ranked among the "Best Places to Live in America" by Money.com.

Bridgewater came in at number 31 in the entire country, number 1 in Somerset County, and number 2 in New Jersey behind Mount Laurel, according to the publication. Evans, Georgia snagged the top spot.

"I have the distinct pleasure to not only have been born in raised in Bridgewater, but to serve it as an elected official as a Councilman and, now, Mayor," said Mayor Matthew Moench. "So, while it is an honor to appear in such a prestigious list, it will only go to show the rest of the country what we, as a community, already know. Bridgewater is a beautiful and diverse community in every sense of the word and our residents take pride in keeping it that way. Thank you to all of our residents who push for and demand the absolute best. This would not be possible without you."

Here are some statistics that factored into Bridgewater's ranking:

• Population - 45,000
• Median Household Income - $128,000
• Median Home Price - $390,000
• Unemployment Rate - 13 percent

To come up with its ranking, Money.com looked at cities and towns with a population of at least 25,000 and removed any with: more than double the national crime rate; a median income level lower than 85 percent of its state’s median; or little to no ethnic diversity.

The list was then narrowed down taking into account data about economic factors, like employment opportunities, as well as housing, cost of living, diversity, health and safety, education, weather and lifestyle, and amenities — both for safety and entertainment.

"We as elected officials strive to provide the best quality of life for our residents that we can and it is great to be included in a list like this which validates our work and the work of the entire community," said Council President Howard Norgalis. "I am excited that people across the country will be exposed to what Bridgewater has to offer."

Here are the top 10 Best Places To Live, according to Money:

1. Evans, Georgia
2. Parker, Colorado
3. Meridian, Idaho
4. Rockwall, Texas
5. Columbia, Maryland
6. Westfield, Indiana
7. Syracuse, Utah
8. Franklin, Tennessee
9. Woodbury, Minnesota
10. Morrisville, North Carolina

To view Money.com's full list of towns click here and to see more about Bridgewater click here.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.