The Town FilesBrighton, Vermont
Town in Essex County · population 1,157 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,900
- Household income
- $47,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 115 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 45.2
Brighton is a town of 1,157 people in Essex County, Vermont. The median home is worth $163,900, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Vermont towns, hipper than 77% of Vermont towns.
How Brighton ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brighton is worth $163,900, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $47,375, which is more affordable than 59% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 51.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brighton | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,900 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $775 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $47,375 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 51.1% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.7% | — |
Who lives in Brighton
| People | Brighton | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.2% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.0% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 33.1 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 89.3% |
Weather in Brighton
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 3.4°F. About 44.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 114.9 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Brighton since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 25, 2007.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Flood | DR-4826: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4770: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 1,069 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,646 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Brighton itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Brighton
- Island Pond, VT1.4 mi · 750 people · home $145,800
- Newark, VT5.4 mi · 584 people · home $229,900
- Morgan, VT7.7 mi · 638 people · home $311,300
- Charleston, VT9.2 mi · 1,021 people · home $238,000
- Sutton, VT12.2 mi · 913 people · home $231,100
- Brownington, VT12.8 mi · 1,042 people · home $193,800
- Burke, VT13.2 mi · 1,651 people · home $340,600
- Holland, VT13.4 mi · 632 people · home $209,400
Brighton questions
Is Brighton, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brighton scores better for retirees than 96% of Vermont towns and quieter than 67%. 27.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Brighton?
The median owner-occupied home in Brighton is valued at $163,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,375, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Brighton?
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.9 inches of precipitation a year and 114.9 inches of snow.
Does Brighton get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Brighton in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)