Rents are 10% below what Brighton's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,980 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in Brighton usually run 0.7% below trend in February and 0.8% above it in July, about $30 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Brighton is 0.9% below its high of $1,998 in June 2024, at $1,980 as of September 2026.
Rent in Brighton changed +1.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Colorado cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Brighton rose 28.6% while median household income rose 42.9% ($75,355 to $107,679). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Brighton is 26.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($107,679) is $2,692 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,620); a 4-bedroom is $2,940.
Northglenn, 10 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,515/mo), about $5,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Brighton. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Brighton, CO has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Brighton, CO stood at $1,652 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,980, reflecting a 19.9% 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.
Discussions about Brighton
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Can you afford rent in Brighton on your salary?
At $1,980/mo, how Brighton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Brighton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Brighton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Brighton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Brighton is $1,980/mo as of October 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 increased 1.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Brighton?
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Has rent outpaced income in Brighton?
How does Brighton rent compare to other cities in Colorado?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Brighton?
At $1,980/mo, rent takes ~22% of Brighton's median household income ($107,679/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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