What are the schools like in Brighton, CO?

Brighton is served primarily by School District 27J. The district operates 18 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 7 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.5:1.

What is the median household income in Brighton?

The median household income in Brighton, CO is $86,975 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Brighton, CO?

Brighton has an average high temperature of 44.4°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 14.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.5 inches.

Brighton, CO Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Brighton, CO affordable or expensive?

Brighton's cost of living index is 106, where 100 represents the national average. This means Brighton is 6% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $429,600 and the median rent is $1,629 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Brighton, CO?

Brighton has a violent crime rate of 471.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2519.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Brighton, CO a Good Place to Live?

Brighton is a small city of 40,569 in Colorado, with a median household income of $86,975 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.

Strengths: Brighton's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Brighton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Brighton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 105.5

Brighton's overall cost of living index is 105.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Brighton costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.

Metric	Brighton, CO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$429,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,629	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$86,975	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Brighton's violent crime rate is 471.9 per 100,000 residents — 24% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

471.9 /100k

Property Crime

2519.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Brighton is served primarily by School District 27J. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Brighton, CO	National Avg
School District	School District 27J	—
Elementary Schools	18	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	7	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Brighton sees average highs of 44.4°F in January and 90.0°F in July, with 14.4 inches of annual precipitation and 34.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Brighton, CO
Average High — January	44.4°F
Average High — July	90.0°F
Annual Precipitation	14.4"
Annual Snowfall	34.5"

Demographics

Metric	Brighton, CO	National Avg
Population	40,569	—
Median Age	34.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	21.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	27.7%	22.2%
65 and over	9.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Todd Creek, CO 4 mi Lochbuie, CO 5 mi Commerce City, CO 6 mi Fort Lupton, CO 8 mi Thornton, CO 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Brighton

Brighton, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

80601

Brighton vs Other Cities

Brighton, CO vs Todd Creek, CO Brighton, CO vs Lochbuie, CO Brighton, CO vs Commerce City, CO Brighton, CO vs Fort Lupton, CO Brighton, CO vs Thornton, CO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brighton, CO affordable or expensive?

Brighton's cost of living index is 106, where 100 is the national average. That puts Brighton roughly 6% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $429,600 and median rent is $1,629/month.

What is the crime rate in Brighton, CO?

Brighton's violent crime rate is 471.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2519.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Brighton?

Public schools in Brighton are operated by School District 27J. The district has 18 elementary, 5 middle, and 7 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.5:1. 22.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Brighton, CO a good place to live?

Brighton, CO has a population of 40,569, a median household income of $86,975, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Brighton?

Brighton averages 44.4°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.4 inches with about 34.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Brighton?

Brighton, CO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 80601.

What is the population of Brighton?

The population of Brighton, Colorado is 40,569 with a median age of 34.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Brighton?

Key numbers for living in Brighton: cost of living index 106 (100 = US average), median home $429,600, median household income $86,975, crime index 122 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Brighton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.