United States › Colorado › Brighton CITY
Brighton Colorado · 45,395 residents (2025 est.) · 21.4 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Brighton is a city of 42,059 people in Colorado. The population has more than doubled since 2000, adding 21,154 people. Few US cities rank higher on income. This skews young, with a median age of 34.0. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 23% of adults. Density works out to 1,962 people per square mile.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 92%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 20,905 in 2000
45,395 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,962 / sq mi
+41%since 2009
from 1,396 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 31.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K 20K 28K 36K 45K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Brighton Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $107,679
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,779 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,927 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.356 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 8.1%
Public administration 3.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 3.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Education & health services 1%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$499,500
+92%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $143,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,779
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $699 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 71.3% in 2000
28.5% rent
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.97 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 47.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 58.2%(12,175)
Hispanic / Latino 38.2%(7,990)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 51.4%(21,611)
Hispanic / Latino 38.6%(16,231)
from 65 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 74.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 75.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 17.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 7.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 67.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 75.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 8.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 21.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 78.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 92.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 85.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 72.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 25.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Women 15+
Never married 25.7%(4,217)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 21.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 11.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 22.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 68.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 31.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 40.2%(845)
Gulf War (1990s) 23.4%(492)
Share of the 2,104 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Brighton Head to head
Compare Brighton to nearby cities BRIGHTON VS
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BRIGHTON VS
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BRIGHTON VS
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BRIGHTON VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Brighton, Colorado? Brighton, Colorado has about 42,059 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Brighton, Colorado? The typical household in Brighton, Colorado earns about $107,679 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Brighton, Colorado expensive? In Brighton, Colorado, the median home is worth about $499,500, and the typical rent is about $1,779 a month.
How educated are people in Brighton, Colorado? About 23.5% of adults age 25 and over in Brighton, Colorado hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Brighton, Colorado? About 9.4% of people in Brighton, Colorado live below the federal poverty line.
Has Brighton, Colorado grown since 1990? Yes, Brighton, Colorado has grown since 1990. The population has added about 27,859 residents, a change of about 196 percent over that period.
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