The Town FilesBrighton, Colorado
City in Adams County · population 40,083 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $499,500
- Household income
- $107,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 72
- Median age
- 34.0
Brighton is a city of 40,083 people in Adams County, Colorado. The median home is worth $499,500, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks more walkable than 93% of Colorado towns, more vibrant than 87% of Colorado towns, better transit than 72% of Colorado towns.
How Brighton ranks
Percentile among Colorado towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Colorado towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brighton is worth $499,500, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $107,679, which is more affordable than 64% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,779 a month. 71.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brighton | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $499,500 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,779 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $107,679 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 71.5% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Brighton
| People | Brighton | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.1% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 92.9% |
Weather in Brighton
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 14.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
72 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brighton since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 5, 1988 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 13, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 132 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 18, 1958.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| July 16, 2015 | Flood | DR-4229: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 14, 2013 | Flood | DR-4145: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 12, 2013 | Flood | EM-3365: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 249,299 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,817 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Brighton itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Brighton
17 public schools with 11,011 students, about 18.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon High School | 9-12 | 1,981 | 19.8 |
| Brighton High School | 9-12 | 1,773 | 19.1 |
| Bromley East Charter School (charter) | PK-8 | 1,215 | 27.0 |
| Foundations Academy (charter) | K-8 | 767 | 18.3 |
| Mary E Pennock Elementary School | PK-5 | 619 | 18.2 |
| Elaine S. Padilla Elementary School | PK-5 | 592 | 17.4 |
| Eagle Ridge Academy (charter) | 9-12 | 571 | 17.8 |
| Vikan Middle School | 6-8 | 565 | 13.1 |
| Overland Trail Middle School | 6-8 | 559 | 15.1 |
| Southeast Elementary School | PK-5 | 512 | 17.7 |
| Northeast Elementary School | PK-6 | 469 | 16.2 |
| Glacier Peak Elementary School | K-5 | 453 | 16.2 |
Towns near Brighton
- Todd Creek, CO4.0 mi · 5,028 people · home $897,200
- Lochbuie, CO4.7 mi · 8,088 people · home $423,000
- Commerce City, CO5.7 mi · 62,418 people · home $499,700
- Fort Lupton, CO8.2 mi · 7,955 people · home $416,000
- Thornton, CO8.4 mi · 141,867 people · home $517,500
- Dacono, CO10.5 mi · 6,297 people · home $482,800
- Northglenn, CO10.6 mi · 38,131 people · home $462,100
- Derby, CO10.8 mi · 8,407 people · home $353,000
Brighton questions
Is Brighton, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brighton scores better for retirees than 7% of Colorado towns and quieter than 18%. 10.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Brighton?
The median owner-occupied home in Brighton is valued at $499,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,679, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,779 a month.
What is the weather like in Brighton?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Brighton get tornadoes?
72 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brighton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 5, 1988. The typical Colorado town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)