Originally founded as a small farming community in the 1870s, Brighton has become an expansive city in Adams County with a population of over 43,800 people. Only 23 miles north of Denver, Brighton combines modern suburbia with industry opportunity, all while preserving its agricultural background. “Brighton may be old, but it’s young. The city is just starting to get bigger, and it’s still got a ton of growth left,” says Real Estate Broker Tony Thurman with Resident Realty, who has 25 years of experience.
As a leader in the energy and automation industries, Brighton has an 8-mile corridor dedicated to Vestas Wind Systems, one of its largest employers. Other top employers include Adams County Government, School District 27J and Platte Valley Medical Center.
Brighton was founded as a small farming community in the 1870s.
Vestas is one of Brighton's largest employers.
Adams County Government hires exceptional employees in the city of Brighton.
Platte Valley Medical Center has award winning care and a beautiful medical campus.
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Older homes in city center, new homes in Brighton Crossings
As a bedroom community, Brighton is divided into several subdivisions. The average sales price for a house in 2024 was roughly $615,700. “You’ve got some pretty old late 1900s homes in the city center towards its beginnings, but as you push out, you’ll get to the newer homes,” Thurman says. Historic Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods such as Walnut Grove and Brighton Terrace feature traditional single-story homes and bungalows. Neighborhoods farther east or south have higher home values. Brighton Crossings is filled with multi-story Craftsman homes and Craftsman bungalows – most of which are new builds. Listing prices range from $450,000 to $725,000. “There are some farms east and north of Brighton too,” Thurman continues.
Bungalow style houses line South 4th Avenue in Brighton.
Historic downtown and surrounding neighborhoods feature traditional single-story bungalows.
Neighborhoods farther east or south in Brighton have higher home values.
Homes in Brighton have an average sales price of about 615 thousand dollars.
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Brighton’s city parks and natural areas
Brighton has roughly 350 acres of protected farmland and 740 acres of open space, including wetlands, greenways and grassy plains. The South Platte River winds through the landscape west of Brighton, with several ponds and reservoirs surrounding it. Farther southeast about 7 miles, Barr Lake State Park allows fishing and boating. Visitors can also go hiking, biking and horseback riding on the trails.
Additionally, Brighton maintains over 1,096 acres of public parks, with about 48 miles of walking trails. Within these are 27 playgrounds, 20 athletic fields, two pools, a disc golf course, a dog park and a skate park. The Brighton Recreation Center provides indoor facilities for multiple youth and adult sports programs. There’s also the Brighton Oasis Family Aquatic Center.
The updated playground at Daniel Carmichael Park is a favorite amongst kids in Brighton.
Brighton Oasis Family Aquatic Park is a seasonal water park has slides and lazy river.
The South Platte River flows just west of the city.
Barr Lake State Park is a photographers paradise, with it's abundance of wildlife.
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Retail and restaurants on Main and within centers
Multiple shopping and dining destinations are scattered throughout Brighton. Downtown’s Main Street has dozens of local retail options, ranging from clothing boutiques to gift shops and novelty stores. Restaurants include upscale bistros, brunch cafes and international cuisine. There are also multiple breweries and bars, creating a vibrant nightlife.
For more options, Brighton has several shopping centers. Brighton Pavilions has restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, service-oriented businesses and the AMC Brighton 12 movie theater. Prairie Center Shopping Center is farther southeast, right by Barr Lake, with a lineup of chain restaurants, national retailers and big-box stores. “It’s where all the new shopping is,” Thurman says. “It’s all the fast food you can imagine.”
Main Street Cafe in Brighton offers standard American fare for breakfast and lunch.
There is a number of breweries and bars in Brighton, creating a vibrant nightlife.
Watch a movie in the luxurious reclining seats at AMC Brighton 12 movie theater.
Prairie Center Shopping Center boasts a a lineup of chain restaurants, and retailers.
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Exploring the city’s art and culture in Downtown Brighton
Downtown Brighton has a vibrant, artistic community. The Armory Performing Arts Center is a modern arts venue that was once used by the Colorado National Guard to store military equipment. Now, it hosts events and performances for theater, dance, music and visual arts. Additionally, the city has over 20 pieces of outdoor sculpture that are a part of its Art in Public Places initiative. Every September, Brighton hosts an Art in the Park festival, where local and regional artists can showcase their work. Other city events include Culturefest and The Festival of Lights Parade.
Downtown Brighton has a vibrant, artistic community.
Brighton is home to more than 20 pieces of outdoor art, including sculptures and murals.
Art galleries are scattered throughout the city of Brighton.
Every September, Brighton hosts an Art in the Park festival.
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Quality public schools in Adams County
School District 27J is the second largest public education system in Adams County, headquartered in and serving Brighton. The district earns a B-minus rating from Niche and educates over 22,700 students across 14 elementary, five middle and three high schools. Of these, there are seven charter schools. “As the community grows and the tax breaks grow, the schools bring in better teachers and instruction. And they’re building more. Back in ‘86 when I graduated, there was only one high school,” Thurman says.
Vikan Middle School is located in the heart of downtown Brighton.
The Brighton High School Bulldogs play at this athletic turf field on it's campus.
Innovations and Options in Brighton serves students in Grades 10-12.
The Brighton High School has a student body just shy of 2,000, offering grades 9-12.
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Navigating in and out of Brighton
Colorado’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) has multiple local bus lines that run through the city, with a park-and-ride station at U.S. 85 & Bridge Street. Brighton also completed a project in 2023 to build an expansive network of multi-use paths. Commuters who drive can access Interstate 76 east of the city, and U.S. Route 85 to the west – both travel north to south and lead into downtown Denver. Colorado state Highway 7 cuts across Brighton, going east to west. The Denver International Airport is about 21 miles away for commercial flights.
Brighton's weather extremes and crime rates
Brighton experiences all four seasons, though summers are hot and winters are snowy. The average annual snowfall for the city is 40 to 45 inches, which is less than Colorado’s average of 67 inches. During the dry season, Brighton may be at risk of potential wildfires. As such, the Brighton Fire Rescue District has five stations in the area.
Crime rates in Brighton are increasing. In December 2023, the Brighton Police Department reported a violent crime rate of 117 per 100,000 people, which is a significant increase compared to 2022's rate of 53. However, the rate of property crimes reported for the same time frame slightly decreased. Both rates were on par with the national average. Brighton has a community partnership program for neighborhood surveillance where homeowners with video cameras can assist with ongoing investigations.
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