Brighton city, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Brighton city is a small city located in Michigan, within Livingston County. The total population is 7,576. It ranks as the 135th most populous out of 745 cities and towns in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Brighton city is 46.7 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. Only 14.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 13.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Brighton city is $81,772. This is 15% higher than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 4% higher. The poverty rate stands at 6.1%. This is 53% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $302,800. Housing costs are 39% higher than the state median of $217,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 66.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Brighton city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.3%. The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 13.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 5.7%. The Asian population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

47.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Brighton city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 49% higher than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.5%. Notably, 15.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Brighton city, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. For official data, visit data.census.gov.