Population 44,498 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Brighton
Household size in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.14 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.07 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.00 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Brighton are small: just 2.00 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.14 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only two have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.6 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.8 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 31.6 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.4 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.8 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Brighton is young: half of its residents are under 31.4, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 30.6, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only two are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Brighton: 6.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Brighton has a lower share of single-parent households than most Massachusetts cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Brighton
Renters in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 72.2% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 75.7% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 76.4% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 76.3% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Brighton: 76.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 37.8% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 4.1 points, as it has nationally. Only one other Massachusetts city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Brighton: 6.9% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The Boston area as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy is down 4.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1943 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1943 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1954 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +12 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Brighton is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1956, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1943 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,359 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,470 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,780 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,204 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$845 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Brighton costs $2,204 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $845 a month from 2006–10, a 62% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 29.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Brighton
Bachelor's degrees in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 62.4% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 61.2% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 69.0% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 72.1% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.7 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Brighton is highly educated: just over seven in ten adults 25 and older (72.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.4% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.1% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.7% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Brighton have finished high school as nationally: 88.7%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Boston area (91.8%). The share with a diploma has fallen 2.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Brighton
| Period | Brighton | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.1% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Brighton runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Brighton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 2.00 | 31.4 | 6.1% | 76.3% | 6.9% | 1956 | $2,204 | 72.1% | 88.7% | 3.6% |
| Allston | 2.21 | 28.4 | 6.2% | 87.6% | 10.5% | 1955 | $2,483 | 73.5% | 95.3% | 5.9% |
| Brookline | 2.20 | 36.1 | 4.6% | 56.8% | 4.7% | 1946 | $2,825 | 85.1% | 97.7% | 4.0% |
| Chestnut Hill | 2.70 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 7.5% | 1951 | $2,737 | 85.4% | 96.4% | 3.0% |
| Watertown | 2.47 | 43.4 | 12.3% | 49.8% | 3.6% | 1938 | $3,082 | 80.7% | 99.7% | 3.2% |
| Watertown Town | 2.17 | 40.8 | 5.7% | 52.3% | 5.9% | 1952 | $2,543 | 66.5% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
| Newton Center | 2.70 | 46.1 | 3.1% | 16.0% | 5.1% | 1949 | $2,781 | 86.1% | 98.8% | 3.8% |
| Newton | 2.55 | 40.8 | 7.8% | 38.3% | 6.7% | 1944 | $2,362 | 76.6% | 96.5% | 3.9% |
| Cambridge | 2.07 | 32.1 | 6.3% | 66.6% | 11.0% | 1959 | $2,761 | 81.4% | 96.4% | 3.3% |
| Newtonville | 2.64 | 43.3 | 4.9% | 43.2% | 6.7% | 1943 | $2,603 | 80.4% | 98.3% | 3.5% |
| Jamaica Plain | 2.30 | 34.2 | 8.0% | 61.4% | 5.6% | 1955 | $2,359 | 68.4% | 90.6% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Jeffersonville, IN · Milton, FL · Beavercreek, OH · Zephyrhills, FL · West Orange, NJ · Upper Arlington, OH · Sherman, TX · Rio Grande, PR · Rancho Santa Margarita, CA · Newark, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Brighton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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