The Town FilesBrighton, Michigan
City in Livingston County · population 7,446 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $339,000
- Household income
- $80,682
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 47.4
Brighton is a city of 7,446 people in Livingston County, Michigan. The median home is worth $339,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Michigan towns, hipper than 96% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Brighton ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brighton is worth $339,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $80,682, which is more affordable than 6% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,198 a month. 66.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brighton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $339,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,198 | $955 |
| Median household income | $80,682 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Brighton
| People | Brighton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Brighton
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brighton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 4, 1957 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 27, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 4, 2017.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 64,380 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,015 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Brighton itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Brighton
10 public schools with 5,531 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton High School | 9-12 | 1,901 | 18.6 |
| Scranton Middle School | 7-8 | 849 | 20.2 |
| Maltby Intermediate School | 5-6 | 843 | 17.9 |
| Hornung Elementary School | K-4 | 561 | 19.3 |
| Hawkins Elementary School | K-4 | 551 | 17.8 |
| Charyl Stockwell Academy High School (charter) | 9-12 | 317 | 17.6 |
| Charyl Stockwell Academy Middle School (charter) | 6-8 | 281 | 21.6 |
| FlexTech High School (charter) | 9-12 | 142 | 15.8 |
| Bridge Alternative High School | 9-12 | 86 | 14.3 |
| Miller | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Brighton
- Brighton, MI3.5 mi · 19,144 people · home $422,400
- Genoa, MI4.0 mi · 20,692 people · home $395,300
- Green Oak, MI5.0 mi · 19,539 people · home $390,800
- Hamburg, MI5.0 mi · 21,259 people · home $384,700
- Whitmore Lake, MI7.7 mi · 7,584 people · home $287,700
- South Lyon, MI8.2 mi · 11,746 people · home $294,600
- Hartland, MI8.6 mi · 15,256 people · home $378,300
- Milford, MI9.2 mi · 17,090 people · home $425,400
Brighton questions
Is Brighton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brighton scores better for retirees than 85% of Michigan towns and quieter than 12%. 29.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.4).
How much does a house cost in Brighton?
The median owner-occupied home in Brighton is valued at $339,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,682, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,198 a month.
What is the weather like in Brighton?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 33.2 inches of snow.
Does Brighton get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brighton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 4, 1957. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)