The Town FilesBrighton, New York
Community in Monroe County · population 37,137 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $282,100
- Household income
- $85,467
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 102 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 40.1
Brighton is a community of 37,137 people in Monroe County, New York. The median home is worth $282,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks hipper than 97% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 96% of New York towns, more walkable than 85% of New York towns.
How Brighton ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brighton is worth $282,100, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $85,467, which is more affordable than 38% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,350 a month. 56.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brighton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $282,100 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,350 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $85,467 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.4% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Brighton
| People | Brighton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 68.6% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.0% | — |
| Work from home | 21.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 91.1% |
Weather in Brighton
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 102.0 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brighton since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 8, 1981 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 8, 1981.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 6, 1985.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| November 14, 2017 | Flood | DR-4348: Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 30, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3262: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 382,138 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,838 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Brighton itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Brighton
- Rochester, NY4.0 mi · 211,328 people · home $139,600
- Pittsford, NY4.0 mi · 30,617 people · home $389,100
- East Rochester, NY4.8 mi · 6,334 people · home $143,500
- Rochester Institute of Technology, NY5.2 mi · 7,322 people · home —
- Henrietta, NY5.3 mi · 47,096 people · home $223,700
- Gates, NY6.2 mi · 4,956 people · home $168,600
- Irondequoit, NY6.3 mi · 51,043 people · home $182,500
- Gates, NY7.1 mi · 29,167 people · home $170,500
Brighton questions
Is Brighton, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brighton scores better for retirees than 42% of New York towns and quieter than 13%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Brighton?
The median owner-occupied home in Brighton is valued at $282,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,467, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,350 a month.
What is the weather like in Brighton?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 102.0 inches of snow.
Does Brighton get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brighton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 8, 1981. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)