City · Colorado
Brighton, Colorado
Brighton, city, mostly in Adams County (99.1% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Weld County, Colorado. Brighton had 45,395 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 13.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 40,083 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 42,059 (±183). GEOID 0808675.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
45,395
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 40,083 · ACS 2020-2024: 42,059 ±183
Median household income
$107,679
±$7,868 (90% margin)
Colorado: $95,470
Median home value
$499,500
±$15,928 (90% margin)
Colorado: $539,400
Median gross rent
$1,779
±$90 (90% margin)
Colorado: $1,761
Where is Brighton and what county is it in?
Brighton is a city mostly in Adams County (99.1% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Weld County, Colorado. It covers 21.7 square miles of land, 1,845 residents per square mile in 2020.
Brighton is in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 10 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 39,718 | 99.1% |
| Weld County | 365 | 0.9% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Brighton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 45,395 people lived in Brighton on July 1, 2025, up 13.3% since 2020, faster than Colorado (+4.1%). The 2020 Census counted 40,083 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 42,059 (±183).
| Measure | Brighton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 42,059 ±183 | 530,225 | +2,223 |
| Households | 13,618 ±643 | 188,730 | +1,115 |
| Average household size | 3.03 ±0.14 | 2.79 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 14,116 ±584 | 195,793 | +1,308 |
Brighton's population since 2000
From 20,905 in 2000 to 45,395 in 2025: up 117.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Brighton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Brighton?
The median resident of Brighton is 34.0 years old; 27.8% are under 18 and 10.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 51.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 38.6%. 9.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Brighton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 ±1.4 | 34.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.8% ±1.9 pts | 24.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 10.1% ±1.1 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Male | 50.5% ±2.1 pts | 50.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 38.6% ±3.0 pts | 42.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 51.4% ±2.9 pts | 45.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±1.2 pts | 3.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±1.0 pts | 3.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.1% ±1.0 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.7% ±1.4 pts | 15.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.4% ±2.3 pts | 29.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.9% ±1.3 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 10.0% ±1.3 pts | 11.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.1% ±2.2 pts | 11.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.9% ±1.9 pts | 85.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.5% ±2.4 pts | 29.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.8% ±1.2 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.8% ±2.4 pts | 85.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7% ±1.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Brighton earn?
Half of Brighton's 13,618 households earn less than $107,679 a year (±$7,868), against $94,571 in Adams County and $95,470 in Colorado. In 2015-2019 the median was $92,739 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,940 after inflation. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Brighton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $107,679 ±$7,868 | $94,571 | +$14,940 |
| Mean household income | $125,794 ±$9,943 | $116,985 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,641 ±$2,980 | $42,206 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4% ±2.6 pts | 9.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.2% ±5.1 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.0% ±2.6 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.0% ±1.2 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.3% ±1.7 pts | 92.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Brighton?
Owners occupy 71.5% of Brighton's occupied homes and renters 28.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $499,500 by its owner (±$15,928). The median renter pays $1,779 a month including utilities, and 37.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Brighton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $499,500 ±$15,928 | $484,200 | +$119,339 |
| Median gross rent | $1,779 ±$90 | $1,781 | +$178 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 37.1% ±8.2 pts | 45.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,588 ±$97 | $2,378 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.5% ±3.4 pts | 68.6% | +7.5 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 28.5% ±3.4 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Housing units | 14,116 ±584 | 195,793 | +1,308 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.8% ±2.6 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.1% ±2.7 pts | 62.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.9% ±1.1 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.2% ±1.5 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 18.5% ±2.3 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.5% ±1.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.5% ±1.1 pts | 4.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Brighton building?
Builders took permits for 483 new housing units in Brighton in 2025 (483 in single-family houses), 10.6 per 1,000 residents against 5.6 across Colorado.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Brighton work and get to work?
74.1% of Brighton's workers drive alone and 13.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.8%.
| Measure | Brighton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 72.0% ±2.5 pts | 72.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% ±1.5 pts | 4.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 74.1% ±3.4 pts | 70.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.8% ±2.6 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3% ±0.8 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.4% ±2.3 pts | 15.2% | +6.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.1 min ±2.2 | 29.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Brighton?
9 census tracts lie mostly in Brighton, and 10 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $70,398 (Tract 86.03) to $150,652 (Tract 85.64).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 85.65Adams County | 7,285 | $76,618 |
| Tract 85.62Adams County | 6,565 | $148,455 |
| Tract 86.06Adams County | 6,384 | $80,813 |
| Tract 85.63Adams County | 4,537 | $150,469 |
| Tract 86.04Adams County | 4,519 | $109,167 |
| Tract 86.05Adams County | 4,099 | $103,531 |
| Tract 85.52Adams County | 5,493 | $95,268 |
| Tract 86.03Adams County | 1,881 | $70,398 |
| Tract 85.64Adams County | 1,598 | $150,652 |
| Tract 85.57Adams County | 1,371 | $123,750 |
| Tract 19.11Weld County | 1,234 | not published |
| Tract 85.53Adams County | 5,832 | $143,148 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Brighton) · Census block assignment files
How does Brighton compare with other places in Colorado?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Brighton is the 914th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 21st-most populous of 272 in Colorado.
Brighton ranks 72nd of 218 places in Colorado with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 21st | 272 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 28th | 150 |
| Residents per square mile | 79th | 221 |
| Median household income | 72nd | 218 |
| Per capita income | 125th | 220 |
| Median home value | 107th | 217 |
| Median gross rent | 84th | 200 |
| Poverty rate | 84th | 151 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 171st | 216 |
| Median age | 174th | 220 |
| Owner-occupied share | 113th | 218 |
| Work from home | 125th | 176 |
| Travel time to work | 36th | 221 |
Brighton's figures with every place in Colorado (CSV)
Every place in Colorado, sortable · Compare Brighton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Brighton?
6 of the 57 figures for Brighton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Brighton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Brighton.