How much does it cost to rent in Brighton, CO?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Brighton, CO is $2,001. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Brighton cheaper than other Colorado cities?

Brighton falls in the middle range for Colorado, ranking #38 out of 67 cities at $2,001/mo.

When was Brighton rent data last updated?

Brighton rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is Brighton a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Brighton is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 4.4% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Brighton, CO?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Brighton, CO at $2,010 per month, which is close to the $2,001 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CO

Brighton

Name: Average Rent Prices in Brighton, CO
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 42,059·38th most expensive in Colorado·Rental market data updated monthly for Brighton, CO

Median rent (all units)

$2,001/mo

Year-over-Year

-4.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

+$39

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Brighton rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Brighton · $2,001

More expensive than 59% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

70/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what Brighton's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,001/mo

Expected by trend

$2,226/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Brighton's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,540

1 BR

$1,680

2 BR

$2,010

3 BR

$2,620

4 BR+

$2,940

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,010/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,001 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$24,012/yr

At $2,001/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 4.4% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-4.4% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Brighton, CO is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 23.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

42,059

Median income

$107,679

Median age

Renters

28.5%

Age distribution

27.8%

23.9%

26.4%

Under 1827.8%

18–3423.9%

35–5426.4%

55–6411.9%

65+10.1%

Gender

50.5%

49.5%

Male50.5%

Female49.5%

Race & ethnicity

59.3%

38.6%

White59.3%

Black2.8%

Hispanic38.6%

Asian2%

Education (25+)

13.1%

31.8%

31.6%

23.5%

No HS diploma13.1%

HS diploma31.8%

Some college31.6%

Bachelor's+23.5%

Housing tenure

71.5%

28.5%

Owner71.5%

Renter28.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Brighton, CO has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,723 → $2,001

up 16.1%

Income

$79,280 → $107,679

up 35.8%

Population

39,895 → 42,059

up 5.4%

Renter share

31.1% → 28.5%

-2.6 pts

Bachelor's+

22.4% → 23.5%

+1.1 pts

Median age

34.5 → 34

-0.5 yrs

The median rent in Brighton, CO stood at $1,723 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,001, reflecting a 16.1% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $107,679 today, compared with $79,280 five years earlier. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 5.4% since 2021, moving from about 39,895 residents to roughly 42,059. Renters now make up 28.5% of households, compared with 31.1% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Brighton

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Brighton rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Brighton on your salary?

At $2,001/mo, how Brighton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $99,204/yr · Rent = 24.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $70,434/yr · Rent = 34.1% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $81,134/yr · Rent = 29.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $145,016/yr · Rent = 16.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $185,294/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $65,951/yr · Rent = 36.4% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $59,546/yr · Rent = 40.3% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $73,395/yr · Rent = 32.7% income

stretched

By apartment size

Brighton rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Brighton. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Brighton

About renting in Brighton, CO

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Brighton is $2,001/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,540/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,010/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,680/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,620/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($107,679/yr), Brighton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 4.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Brighton an affordable city for renters?

Brighton is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,001/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($107,679/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Brighton falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Brighton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $80,000/year (~$38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,001/mo in Brighton. The local median household income is $107,679/yr, meaning the typical Brighton household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Brighton?

Rent in Brighton has decreased 4.4% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Brighton rent compare to other cities in Colorado?

Brighton is middle-of-the-pack for Colorado for rent, ranking #38 out of 67 tracked cities at $2,001/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Brighton?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Brighton ($2,001/mo): Federal Heights ($1,505/mo), Northglenn ($1,509/mo), Thornton ($1,904/mo).

What percentage of Brighton residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 28.5% of Brighton households are renters, while 71.5% are owner-occupied. Brighton leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Brighton rent compare to the national average?

Brighton's median rent of $2,001/mo is $39 (2%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Colorado, it ranks #38 out of 67 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

22%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,001/mo, rent takes ~22% of Brighton's median household income ($107,679/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Brighton 22%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.4%

Run the Brighton affordability calculator →

Nearby cities