thumb|right|Paul Smith's Hotel, circa 1892
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,682 people, 319 households, and 203 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 591 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 79.37% White, 18.55% African American, 0.65% Native American, 1.19% Asian, and 0.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 319 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 11.7% under the age of 18, 37.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 215.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 246.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,679, and the median income for a family was $48,250. Males had a median income of $35,952 versus $26,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,995. About 3.0% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Brighton
thumb|A [[Adirondack guideboat|guideboat on Upper St. Regis Lake, Saint Regis Mountain behind]]
thumb|[[Camp Topridge|Topridge, Upper St Regis Lake]]
- Gabriels – A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town, located on NY-86 at the junction of County Road 30, the site of Camp Gabriels, a former minimum security state prison, which closed in 2009.
- Lower St. Regis Lake – A lake south of Paul Smiths where Paul Smith's College is located.
- Meacham Lake – A lake partly in the town at the northern town line.
- Osgood Pond – A lake northeast of Paul Smiths.
- Paul Smiths – A hamlet in the southern part of the town on NY-30.
- Rainbow Lake – (1) A hamlet near the eastern town line, north of Gabriels on County Road 60, and (2) A lake at the eastern town boundary, near the community of Rainbow Lake. Rainbow Lake flows into the North Branch of the Saranac River.
- Spitfire Lake – A lake south of Lower St. Regis Lake.
- Upper St. Regis Lake – A lake at the southern town line.