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Living in
Franklin.
About
Life in Franklin
Franklin is a community of 10,254 people in Kentucky. The median household income is $59,052, median rent runs about $1,010 per month, and median home values are around $195,400. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.
Franklin at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Foreign-Born
1.8%
Broadband Internet
89.9%
of households
Population Growth
+5.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.8% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in Franklin: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Franklin, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (27.4%), and 1.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
16.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.2%
of households
Married Couples
42.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.50
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for KY
Rent, home values, and income in Franklin
Rent and home values here are close to the KY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,313
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $247,473 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for KY
Unemployment in Franklin
Unemployment in Simpson County, which includes Franklin, is close to the KY average.
Unemployment rate
Franklin: Simpson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Simpson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Franklin Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute18.4 min avg
How Franklin residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Franklin, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 42 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in Franklin runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
151.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
937.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Franklin Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
27.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Simpson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Simpson County, which includes Franklin, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,000 |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 4 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $215,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Winter Storm | $80,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Simpson County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Simpson County, which includes Franklin, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Simpson County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Franklin has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.5"
Annual Snowfall
4.3"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
80
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
81
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 27°F | 4.20" |
| Feb | 50°F | 30°F | 4.69" |
| Mar | 59°F | 37°F | 5.08" |
| Apr | 70°F | 47°F | 5.24" |
| May | 78°F | 57°F | 5.80" |
| Jun | 85°F | 65°F | 4.36" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.57" |
| Aug | 88°F | 67°F | 4.15" |
| Sep | 82°F | 60°F | 3.64" |
| Oct | 71°F | 48°F | 3.69" |
| Nov | 59°F | 37°F | 3.78" |
| Dec | 49°F | 30°F | 5.11" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Franklin
Franklin has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.0%
of residents
The Medical Center at Franklin
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Franklin
Franklin's student/teacher ratio is 15.9:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mammoth Cave National Park, 41 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Franklin
Franklin has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mammoth Cave National Park (41 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mammoth Cave National Park
National Park
41 mi awayStones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
59 mi awayAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
77 mi awayFort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
77 mi awayLincoln Boyhood National Memorial
National Memorial
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Franklin
Goodnight Memorial Library
203 South Main Street, Franklin
Cities Near Franklin
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Franklin?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Franklin FAQ
Is Franklin, Kentucky affordable?⌄
Franklin's median rent is $1,010/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,052/year. Median home value is $195,400.
Is Franklin, Kentucky safe?⌄
Franklin's violent crime rate was 152 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 938 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Franklin, Kentucky?⌄
Simpson County, which includes Franklin, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Franklin, Kentucky?⌄
The cost of living in Franklin is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,010/month and median household income is $59,052/year. The median home value is $195,400. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Franklin, Kentucky?⌄
The average commute in Franklin is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from