What are the schools like in Brighton, MI?

Brighton is served primarily by Brighton Area Schools. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.2:1.

What is the median household income in Brighton?

The median household income in Brighton, MI is $74,022 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

What is the weather like in Brighton, MI?

Brighton has an average high temperature of 30.9°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Brighton, MI affordable or expensive?

Brighton's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Brighton is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $282,000 and the median rent is $1,179 per month.

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

Brighton has a violent crime rate of 110.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1228.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Brighton, MI a Good Place to Live?

Brighton is a small town of 7,486 in Michigan, with a median household income of $74,022 and a 2.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Brighton stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 98.0

Brighton's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Brighton costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Brighton, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$282,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,179	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,022	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Brighton's violent crime rate is 110.6 per 100,000 residents — 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

110.6 /100k

Property Crime

1228.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Brighton is served primarily by Brighton Area Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Brighton, MI	National Avg
School District	Brighton Area Schools	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	48.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Brighton sees average highs of 30.9°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 34.1 inches of annual precipitation and 33.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Brighton, MI
Average High — January	30.9°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	34.1"
Annual Snowfall	33.2"

Demographics

Metric	Brighton, MI	National Avg
Population	7,486	—
Median Age	45.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	14.6%	22.2%
65 and over	25.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Whitmore Lake, MI 8 mi South Lyon, MI 8 mi Howell, MI 9 mi Pinckney, MI 9 mi Hartland, MI 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Brighton

Brighton, MI is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

48116 48114

Brighton vs Other Cities

Brighton, MI vs Whitmore Lake, MI Brighton, MI vs South Lyon, MI Brighton, MI vs Howell, MI Brighton, MI vs Pinckney, MI Brighton, MI vs Hartland, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brighton, MI affordable or expensive?

Brighton's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Brighton roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $282,000 and median rent is $1,179/month.

What is the crime rate in Brighton, MI?

Brighton's violent crime rate is 110.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1228.5 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 Brighton Area Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1. 48.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Brighton, MI a good place to live?

Brighton, MI has a population of 7,486, a median household income of $74,022, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. 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 30.9°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.1 inches with about 33.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Brighton?

Brighton, MI is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 48116, 48114.

What is the population of Brighton?

The population of Brighton, Michigan is 7,486 with a median age of 45.8. 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 98 (100 = US average), median home $282,000, median household income $74,022, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.