Brighton, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Washington County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
655 Population 840/sq mi density
$55,000 Median Income $25,207 per capita
$87,700 Home Value $104,668 Zillow
$698 Median Rent 36.3% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.0 / 5.0
$55,000 median income, 4.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$87,700 home value, $698/mo rent
D
Education
1.5 / 5.0
6.5% bachelor's degree or higher

Brighton, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$55,000
27% below
$25,207 per capita
Home Value
$87,700
69% below
Zillow: $104,668
Median Rent
$698/mo
40% below
36.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
6.5%
81% below
81.3% high school+
Unemployment
4.9%
36% above
19.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.3%
22% above
16.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F

How Brighton Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Brighton's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
73%
Home Value
31%
Rent
60%
Poverty
153%
Bachelor's
19%
Unemployment
136%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Brighton a Good Place to Live?

B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Brighton residents earn a median household income of $55,000 , which is 27% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $25,207. The unemployment rate stands at 4.9% (36% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 19.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 858 business establishments, including 43 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Brighton is $87,700 , 69% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $104,668. Median rent is $698/month, with 36.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1947.

Education

6.5% of adults in Brighton hold a bachelor's degree or higher (81% below the national average). 81.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Brighton has an average annual temperature of 49°F (10°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.3 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population655
Median Age37.9 yrs
Density840/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born1.2%
Veterans7.6%

Economy

B
Median Income$55,000
Per Capita$25,207
Unemployment4.9%
Poverty19.0%
County GDP$1,863M
Avg Weekly Wage$933

Housing

A+
Home Value$87,700
Rent$698
Ownership68.8%
Zillow$104,668
Housing Units270
Rent Burden36.3%

Health

Obesity39.3%
Diabetes9.8%
Smoking16.8%
Heart Disease5.7%
Premature Death6,076/100K

Climate

Avg Temp49°F
Rain38.3 in/yr
Elevation751 ft

Education

D
Bachelor's+6.5%
High School+81.3%
Graduate+2.4%
School Score5.4/10

Community

2024 VoteR 62% / D 37%
Commute27 min
Broadband83.3%
Internet Speed91 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3

Did You Know?

The median home in Brighton was built in 1947.
The nearest airport is Ottumwa Regional (33 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.394 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
15.7% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.