How old are Brighton's houses?
The year a house was built predicts a lot about its paint: lead rules, layers of old coatings, or a thin builder coat starting to chalk. Here is what Census data says about Brighton and the towns around it.
Of Brighton's roughly 13,819 homes, 47.8% were built in 2000 or later and 32.5% before 1980, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey for 2019–2023. The split runs by ZIP code: in 80602 (west Brighton, Todd Creek and part of north Thornton) 85.6% of homes are from 2000 or later, while in 80601 (central Brighton) 34.2% predate 1980. Brighton's population grew from 40,072 in April 2020 to an estimated 43,473 in July 2024, up 8.5%. For painting, newer homes usually need a first proper repaint over thin builder paint, while homes built before 1978 need lead-safe preparation.
When the homes were built
Each bar splits all homes in an area into four building eras. Brighton as a whole looks a lot like Weld County: about half of its homes are from this century. But the city is really two places. ZIP 80601 holds the older core, while 80602 is almost entirely post-2000 subdivisions.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates, table B25034. ZIP figures are ZIP Code Tabulation Areas and include homes outside city limits.
Show the numbers as a table
| Area | Housing units | Before 1980 | 1980–1999 | 2000–2009 | 2010 or later |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton city | 13,819 | 32.5% | 19.7% | 27.9% | 19.9% |
| ZIP 80601 | 13,885 | 34.2% | 19.6% | 27.4% | 18.8% |
| ZIP 80602 | 13,834 | 3.0% | 11.4% | 48.2% | 37.4% |
| ZIP 80603 | 5,842 | 17.8% | 16.0% | 45.1% | 21.1% |
| Adams County | 191,765 | 37.3% | 27.0% | 20.8% | 14.9% |
| Weld County | 125,033 | 30.8% | 19.8% | 25.5% | 24.0% |
| Colorado | 2,545,124 | 40.6% | 28.7% | 16.7% | 14.0% |
What each era means for paint
| Built | What we usually find | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1978 | Wood siding and trim with many layers of paint, some of it lead-based; plaster or early drywall inside | EPA lead-safe rules apply when painted surfaces are disturbed. Scraping and containment are most of the labor. |
| 1978–1999 | Hardboard lap siding, early fiber cement, second or third repaint cycle | Swollen board edges and unsealed cut ends need repair before paint will last. |
| 2000–2009 | Production-built subdivisions, many on their first or second repaint, often with HOA color rules | Caulk failure and chalking; color approval may be required before work. |
| 2010 or later | Builder-grade paint applied in one thin coat, young trees, full sun | Fading and chalking on south and west walls at three to five years. Two full coats fix it. |
Read more in why builder-grade paint fails and on our interior painting page, which covers lead-safe work in older homes.
How fast the area is growing
Brighton added about 3,401 residents between the 2020 Census and mid-2024. Weld County towns to the north and east grew faster in percentage terms, led by Keenesburg. Two small towns, Hudson and Platteville, lost a few residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates for incorporated places, counties and states (SUB-EST2024). Todd Creek and Henderson are not incorporated and have no estimate in this series.
Show the numbers as a table
| Area | April 2020 | July 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 40,072 | 43,473 | +8.5% |
| Fort Lupton | 7,976 | 9,948 | +24.7% |
| Lochbuie | 8,104 | 8,599 | +6.1% |
| Keenesburg | 1,257 | 2,054 | +63.4% |
| Hudson | 1,645 | 1,617 | -1.7% |
| Platteville | 2,959 | 2,904 | -1.9% |
| Adams County | 519,575 | 542,973 | +4.5% |
| Weld County | 328,986 | 369,745 | +12.4% |
| Colorado | 5,775,324 | 5,957,493 | +3.2% |
Community snapshot
The table below compares the communities we cover. Todd Creek stands out: it is almost entirely owner-occupied, mostly built since 2000, with a median home value well above the rest of the area. Fort Lupton has the oldest housing, with more than half of its homes built before 1980.
| Community | Homes | Built before 1980 | Built 2000 or later | Owner-occupied | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 13,819 | 32.5% | 47.8% | 71.0% | $475,100 |
| Todd Creek (CDP) | 1,732 | 9.5% | 80.2% | 99.2% | $856,800 |
| Lochbuie | 3,061 | 16.6% | 71.3% | 92.1% | $373,800 |
| Fort Lupton | 2,922 | 55.2% | 17.7% | 63.9% | $372,400 |
| Keenesburg | 688 | 34.6% | 48.1% | 82.9% | $410,500 |
| Hudson | 642 | 50.5% | 24.3% | 72.8% | $312,600 |
| Platteville | 996 | 39.0% | 29.9% | 88.4% | $376,600 |
| ZIP 80640 (Henderson) | 4,889 | 7.1% | 78.7% | 83.3% | $464,400 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25003 and B25077. Henderson is unincorporated, so ZIP 80640 is used in its place. Small-town figures come from small survey samples and carry wide margins of error; treat them as a rough picture rather than exact counts.
How to use this for your own house
- Find your build year. It is on your county property record (Adams or Weld County assessor) or your closing papers.
- Before 1978? Expect lead-safe preparation, and ask any painter for their EPA lead-safe certification.
- 2010 or later? Rub the sunniest wall. Chalky residue on your palm means it is time for the first real repaint.
- In an HOA? Check the color rules before you collect bids. Our HOA page explains the process.
Questions about the data
Where do these numbers come from?
Housing figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2019–2023, which are based on a sample of households. Population numbers come from the Census Bureau's Vintage 2024 estimates.
Why use ZIP codes as well as the city?
Brighton's city limits mix very different neighborhoods. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas show the split between the older center (80601) and the newer west side (80602), though they also include some homes outside the city.
How many Brighton homes were built before 1980?
About 32.5% of Brighton's homes, roughly 4,490 units, were built before 1980, according to the 2019–2023 survey.
Why does build year matter for painting?
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, which brings federal work-practice rules. Newer homes usually have a thin builder coat that fades early. The right prep is different for each.
For the same kind of data across the whole metro, see Denver house painting by the numbers from our Denver team.
Request your free estimate
Tell us what needs painting and add a few photos if you can. Most projects around Brighton can be priced from photos and the year the house was built.
Rather talk? 720-208-5645