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Brighton, CO

Full City Profile · Colorado · Denver County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
41,196 Population 1,897/sq mi density
$100,134 Median Income $40,248 per capita
$475,100 Home Value $496,319 Zillow
$1,734 Median Rent 31.8% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature 330 sunny days/yr
327 Violent Crime/100K 2,647 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.8 / 5.0
$100,134 median income, 3.1% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.0 / 5.0
$475,100 home value, $1,734/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
327 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
23.5% bachelor's degree or higher
Brighton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 14.1 inches. The area receives 34.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

30°F Jan (-1°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average50.6°F
6% below US avg
January Average30°F (-1°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation5,030 ft (1,533 m)
Area20.3 sq mi (52.5 km²)
Population Density1,897/sq mi
Coordinates39.9657°N, 104.7942°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyDenver County County
Nearest AirportDenver International (DEN)
10 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 14.1"
63% below US avg
Snowfall 34.5"
Wettest Month (May) 2.48"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.43"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0480 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)26.5 ppb
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.77 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.36 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)6.9 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score95.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability17.8 / 100
Community Resilience68.5 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Very High
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Very High
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Volcano Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

15 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.0. Most recent: M2.7 on Jun 13, 2025.

Dec 25, 1994 9 km NE of Larkspur, Colorado M4.0 75 km
Dec 23, 1995 7 km WNW of Rock Creek Park, Colorado M3.5 138 km
Jan 18, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M3.3 100 km
Jun 1, 2014 9 km NNW of Kersey, Colorado M3.2 58 km
Jul 22, 2001 6 km WNW of Woodland Park, Colorado M3.1 109 km
Sep 12, 1990 13 km NW of Silverthorne, Colorado M3.0 124 km
Feb 26, 2008 29 km WNW of Westcreek, Colorado M2.9 96 km
Jan 19, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.9 100 km
Mar 30, 2019 7 km NE of Greeley, Colorado M2.9 57 km
Dec 31, 1995 6 km WNW of Rock Creek Park, Colorado M2.8 139 km
Jan 19, 1997 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.7 100 km
Apr 18, 1998 8 km SE of Westcreek, Colorado M2.7 100 km
Jun 13, 2025 7 km SE of Erie, Colorado M2.7 16 km
Aug 23, 2016 2 km SSE of Eaton, Colorado M2.6 61 km
Jun 23, 2014 6 km NNE of Kersey, Colorado M2.5 57 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

812 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 1 fatality, 159 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 4, 2015 EF3 40 km 0
May 22, 2008 EF3 30 km 1
Jun 15, 1988 EF3 29 km 0
Jun 12, 1982 EF3 28 km 0
May 18, 1975 EF3 19 km 0
May 15, 1952 EF3 45 km 0
Jun 7, 2021 EF2 22 km 0
May 7, 2016 EF2 61 km 0
Jun 7, 2012 EF2 99 km 0
Jun 15, 2009 EF2 82 km 0
May 10, 2004 EF2 99 km 0
Jul 31, 1996 EF2 58 km 0
Jul 30, 1996 EF2 82 km 0
Jul 13, 1996 EF2 38 km 0
May 30, 1996 EF2 83 km 0
Jun 9, 1990 EF2 85 km 0
Jun 15, 1988 EF2 29 km 0
Jun 5, 1988 EF2 16 km 0
Jun 5, 1988 EF2 24 km 0
Jul 7, 1987 EF2 60 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: CAMERON PEAK (208,910 ac, 2020).

Year Name Acres Distance
2020 CAMERON PEAK 208,910 97 km
2002 HAYMAN 129,417 93 km
2012 HIGH PARK 90,769 91 km
1996 BUFFALO CREEK 11,690 76 km
2000 BOBCAT 10,444 71 km
2020 CALWOOD 9,836 50 km
2000 HIGH MEADOWS 9,607 79 km
2004 PICNIC ROCK 9,014 91 km
2001 MVD PSFRXASST 4 7,375 87 km
2021 MARSHALL 6,286 33 km
2010 FOURMILE CANYON 5,865 51 km
2002 UNNAMED 5,258 100 km
2002 BIG ELK 4,348 64 km
2021 BIJOU 3,485 74 km
2012 LOWER NORTH FORK FIRE 3,436 67 km
2003 OVERLAND 3,232 51 km
2009 OLD STAGE 3,160 44 km
2011 CRYSTAL FIRE 2,855 79 km
2002 SCHOONOVER 2,821 89 km
2012 FERN LAKE 2,549 86 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 30°F (-1°C) 0.4 in Driest
February 33°F (1°C) 0.4 in
March 40°F (4°C) 1.2 in
April 48°F (9°C) 1.8 in
May 57°F (14°C) 2.5 in Wettest
June 67°F (20°C) 1.9 in
July 74°F (23°C) 2.0 in Warmest
August 71°F (22°C) 1.6 in
September 62°F (17°C) 1.3 in
October 51°F (10°C) 0.9 in
November 37°F (3°C) 0.9 in
December 30°F (-1°C) 0.5 in Coldest

Brighton has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 30°F in December to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 15.5 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.5") and January the driest (0.4").

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