What it's like to live in Franklin
Franklin is a smaller city in Tennessee with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Franklin deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average rainfall
How Franklin compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Franklin
Based on Franklin's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,846
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $76,920 a year
- 46% of Franklin renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$141,080
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $70,540
- Homes cost 5.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 36% above US
$1,923/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,923 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $705,400. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $705,400 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 35% below US
2.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.8%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 48% below US
171 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 693/100k · Franklin Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 30% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 31°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 5.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 79% above US
65% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
17 public schools inside the boundary
There are 17 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Stones River National Battlefield (24 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Franklin's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,923/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (30% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Franklin
All Tennessee guides →Moving to Nolensville →
10 mi away · pop. 15,074
Rent $2,454/mo · Income $177,148
Compare with Franklin →Moving to Spring Hill →
13 mi away · pop. 55,765
Rent $1,844/mo · Income $112,013
Compare with Franklin →Not sure Franklin is the one?
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