Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Brighton, Michigan
A $303,000 home here costs
$2,563per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $110,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,652. The real number is $912 higher every month, 55% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Livingston County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Brighton against Livingston County and Michigan
| Measure | Brighton | Livingston County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $302,800 | $331,100 |
| Median property tax | $4,026 | $3,269 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.330% | 0.987% |
| Median gross rent | $1,248 | $1,236 |
| Population | 7,576 | 195,143 |
The weather behind that power bill
Brighton sits in Livingston County, which averages a high of 83.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 14.4°F in its coldest, with 33.13" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 542 cooling and 6,885 heating degree days, which is what sets the $142 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Livingston County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Livingston County
Full Livingston County cost breakdown · Every county in Michigan
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Brighton averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Brighton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Brighton I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Brighton?
A $303,000 home in Brighton, Michigan costs approximately $2,563 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,652 principal and interest, $336 property tax, $113 homeowners insurance, $210 utilities and $253 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Brighton?
Brighton has an effective property tax rate of 1.330%, based on a median home value of $302,800 and median real estate taxes of $4,026. That is higher than the Livingston County average of 0.987%.
What is the average home price in Brighton?
The median owner-occupied home value in Brighton, Michigan is $302,800, against $331,100 across Livingston County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brighton?
Median gross rent in Brighton is $1,248 a month, against $2,563 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Brighton?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Brighton, Michigan at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $110,000 a year. That covers the full $2,563 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Brighton, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Michigan.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.