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Living in
Franklin.
About
Life in Franklin
If you're considering Franklin, you're looking at a solidly upper-middle-class suburban community where most people are homeowners with families—about two-thirds of households are married couples, and the median home value sits around $612,000. The median household income of $145,773 is well above the national average, and the unemployment rate of 4.1% reflects a stable local economy, though most residents likely commute for work; expect about 34 minutes each way on average, heading toward Boston or nearby employment centers via I-495. The schools are well-regarded with multiple elementary schools, middle schools, and a newly rebuilt high school, plus Dean College offers local higher education options.
Franklin at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Foreign-Born
10.3%
Broadband Internet
96.7%
of households
Population Growth
+2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.3% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Franklin: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Franklin, the largest foreign-born group is from India (28.9%), and 4.4% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
21.1%
of residents
65 and Older
14.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.5%
of households
Married Couples
60.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.58
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 8% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Franklin
In Franklin, rent runs 8% above the MA average, and home values are 9% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,044
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
78.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.9%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Franklin
Unemployment in Franklin is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Franklin Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.5 min avg
How Franklin residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Franklin, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 47% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 mi
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD)
Small hub2.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 28 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M 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 79% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Franklin runs 79% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
70.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
202.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Franklin Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Norfolk County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Norfolk County, which includes Franklin, the most common type is strong wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $12,200 |
| 2024 | 14 | High Wind | $4,200 |
| 2023 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,800 |
| 2022 | 25 | Strong Wind | $17,500 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $322,000 |
| 2020 | 57 | Strong Wind | $30.2M |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $90,800 |
| 2018 | 45 | Strong Wind | $240,000 |
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
Norfolk County, county-wide
Franklin is about 5% of Norfolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Norfolk County, which includes Franklin, is typically good — 308 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
308
per year
Moderate Days
55
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Norfolk County, county-wide
Franklin is about 5% of Norfolk County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Franklin has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.3"
Annual Snowfall
47.7"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
152
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 17°F | 4.11" |
| Feb | 41°F | 18°F | 3.34" |
| Mar | 48°F | 25°F | 4.64" |
| Apr | 60°F | 35°F | 4.80" |
| May | 71°F | 46°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 79°F | 55°F | 4.47" |
| Jul | 85°F | 61°F | 3.47" |
| Aug | 83°F | 59°F | 3.94" |
| Sep | 76°F | 51°F | 4.18" |
| Oct | 65°F | 39°F | 5.06" |
| Nov | 53°F | 31°F | 3.77" |
| Dec | 43°F | 23°F | 4.65" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Franklin
Uninsured
1.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Franklin's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Milford Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Milford
Landmark Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Woonsocket
Arbour-fuller Hospital
Psychiatric · 11.3 mi away · South Attleboro
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Franklin
Franklin's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 58.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
58.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Franklin
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,089 students · in-state tuition $48,378 · 46% graduate · median earnings $47,982 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 2,566 students · in-state tuition $12,220 · 57% graduate · median earnings $63,249 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 185 students · in-state tuition $19,650 · 43% graduate · median earnings $62,057 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Franklin
Franklin has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
14 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
18 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
22 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
23 mi awayAdams National Historical Park
National Historical Park
24 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
25 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
26 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
26 mi awayPublic Libraries in Franklin
Franklin Public Library
118 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, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Franklin's median rent is $1,899/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $145,773/year. Median home value is $611,700.
Is Franklin, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Franklin's violent crime rate was 71 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 203 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Franklin, Massachusetts?⌄
Franklin has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Franklin, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Franklin is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,899/month and median household income is $145,773/year. The median home value is $611,700. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Franklin, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Franklin is 33 minutes, which is longer 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