Brighton: Demographics & People
Brighton is home to 2,306 people, in 820 households. Population shrank 9.1% from 2,536 (2022) to 2,306 (2024). Median age 37.7 years. (6.5y younger than Macoupin County). Children under 18 are 24% of the population. Population is 96% White (non-Hispanic) and 2% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.04). 73% of households are family-led. County health: 38% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.8 people per household (vs Illinois avg 2.5).
- 27% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Illinois 38%).
- 75 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Illinois 64).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 9.1% from 2,536 (2022) to 2,306 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,101 (extrapolated at -4.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,847.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 21,512 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -9.1% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 2,536 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 2,306 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 2,306 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Population Estimate | 1,847 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 37.7y is 1.2 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 24% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 37.7 years (at Illinois median) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 24.3% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 2,306 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 561 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 501.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 814.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 430 |
| Population under 18 | 561 |
| Median age | 37.7 years (at Illinois median) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 2,306 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.04 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 2,440 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 9 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 38 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 3.7% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 98.1% |
| Black population | 0.8% (vs Illinois 9.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.6% (vs Illinois 17.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 95.5% (vs Illinois 54.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,860 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 420 |
| Share born in this state | 80.7% |
| Share born in another state | 19.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 18.2% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 20 |
| From Europe | 9 |
Households & Family Composition
820 households. Averaging 2.9 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 73% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 675 families, 38% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 684 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 675 |
| Married couples with children | 257 |
| Single-parent households | 21 |
| Average household size | 2.90 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 10.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 26 |
| Family households | 600 households (vs Illinois 9,709) |
| Households that are families | 73.2% (vs Illinois 62.4%) |
| Total households | 820 households (vs Illinois 14,867) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 2.9% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%.
| Moved within the county (past year) | 2.9% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 19,853 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 19,817 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 36 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 168 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.0% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 70 residents live in group quarters (3.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 70 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 13 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 17083 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 17 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 083 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Jersey |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 11.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 8.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 15.20 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 17083 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Jersey County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large fringe metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 975 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 17083 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Jersey County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 61.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 57.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 54.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 21,773 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 2.10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 1 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 24.3% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 2,306, shrinking, family-oriented, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 2,306 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Town Summary · County | Jersey County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade