City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Brighton, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Brighton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

655
Residents
$55,000
Median income
$87,700
Median home
$962
Median rent (state)

Brighton - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Brighton lands in the 27th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

27th
percentile, household income
6th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Brighton, IA

655 people live in Brighton, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Brighton brings in $55,000 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 19.0%. Typical homes in Brighton are valued around $87,700, and the median resident age is 37.9 years. Educational attainment runs 6.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 59.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Brighton (No Permits), per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Iowa scores 87.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $962 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 44.2 out of 100 (Low).

Population

655 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$55,000 /yr

Poverty 19.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Brighton compare to other US cities?

Here's how Brighton stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 6% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Brighton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Brighton's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Brighton ranks #56 - the 93rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Brighton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#652 of 845
23rd percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#338 of 858
59th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#626 of 849
26th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#56 of 858
93rd percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#784 of 858
9th percentile in Iowa

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Iowa only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

27thIncome percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Brighton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$87,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 94% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Brighton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Brighton, IA Brighton, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Brighton, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Brighton, IA median $55,000/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Brighton, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Brighton, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 6.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 19.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
655
Median Income
$55,000
Median Home Value
$87,700
Median Age
37.9
Poverty Rate
19.0%
Labor force participation
59.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
6.5%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
585 residents590 residents595 residents600 residents605 residents 202020212022202320242025 599 residents 589 residents ▼ -1.7%
Brighton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.3%
Carpool
9.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.5%
Work from Home
7.0%
Other
2.1%

Based on 242 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Brighton sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$962/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
44.2 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Radcliffe
654 people
Van Horne
653 people
Blairstown
652 people
Coalville
652 people
Washburn
658 people
Amana
650 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Brighton's 655 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Elsah, IL
655 people
Reynolds, IN
655 people
Kevil, KY
655 people
Poplar, MT
655 people
Bettsville, OH
655 people
Glasgow, OR
655 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Brighton's $55,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Gurley, AL
$55,000 median income
Brevig Mission, AK
$55,000 median income
Nikolaevsk, AK
$55,000 median income
Perrytown, AR
$55,000 median income
Ridgecrest Heights, CA
$55,000 median income
Lawtey, FL
$55,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Brighton, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Brighton, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.8% 7.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.6% White 91.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.6% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 7.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Brighton compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Brighton (this city) 655 $55,000
Radcliffe 654 $53,125
Van Horne 653 $77,708
Blairstown 652 $74,167
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Brighton, IA?

What is the population of Brighton, IA? +

655 people live in Brighton, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Brighton, IA? +

Median annual household income in Brighton runs $55,000, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Brighton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Brighton; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Brighton, IA? +

Homes in Brighton carry a median value of $87,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.