City profile · New York · Census ACS 2023

Brighton, NY

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.

36,633
Residents
$83,723
Median income
$259,300
Median home
$1,573
Median rent (state)

Brighton - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Brighton places in the 65th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

65th
percentile, household income
58th
percentile, home value
62nd
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, NY

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 36,633 residents in Brighton, a small city within New York. The typical household in Brighton brings in $83,723 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.9%. Home values in Brighton run a median of $259,300, and the median resident age is 39.1 years. Educational attainment runs 69.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 62.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

New York carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,573 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New York's average monthly utility costs around $285 (state average). Workers in Brighton report an average commute of 13.8 minutes, with 69.6% driving alone and 19.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 93.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

36,633 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New York

Median Household Income

$83,723 /yr

Poverty 4.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.9 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New York 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 65% higher than other cities
Home value 58% pricier than other cities
Median rent 62% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Brighton's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New York, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

65thIncome percentile

65th 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+)

$259,300 42nd percentile more affordable than 42% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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, NY Brighton, NY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Brighton, NY-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, NY median $83,723/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, NY'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, NY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 69.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.9%

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

Population
36,633
Median Income
$83,723
Median Home Value
$259,300
Median Age
39.1
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Labor force participation
62.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
69.6%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
13.8 minutes
Drive Alone
69.6%
Carpool
6.7%
Public Transit
0.9%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
19.5%
Other
1.3%

Based on 18,980 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New York - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$65
avg/month
Total Utilities
$285
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New York 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 New York 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
107.9
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,573/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New York

Kiryas Joel
36,572 people
Elmont
36,436 people
Commack
36,353 people
East Meadow
35,806 people
Central Islip
37,751 people
Long Beach
34,741 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Brighton's 36,633 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

South Valley, NM
36,605 people
La Presa, CA
36,669 people
Manchester, CT
36,561 people
Hilliard, OH
36,560 people
Beloit, WI
36,554 people
Claremont, CA
36,553 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Brighton's $83,723 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ai, OH
$83,733 median income
Thruston, KY
$83,707 median income
Concord, NH
$83,701 median income
Lauderdale Lakes, WI
$83,698 median income
Denali Park, AK
$83,750 median income
Euharlee, GA
$83,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Brighton, NY 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, NY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.9% 9.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.9% White 76.9% Black or African American 5.8% Asian 9.7% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 5.2% 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 New York 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) 36,633 $83,723
Kiryas Joel 36,572 $43,171
Elmont 36,436 $120,917
Commack 36,353 $170,375
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NY OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Brighton, NY?

What is the population of Brighton, NY? +

36,633 people live in Brighton, NY according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Brighton runs $83,723, 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 New York state average, a cost of living index of 107.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New York vary by metro area.

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

A typical home in Brighton is worth $259,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.