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Living in
Franklin.
About
Life in Franklin
Franklin is a prosperous Milwaukee suburb that appeals primarily to established professionals and families with solid incomes—the median household income here is well above state and national averages, and that's reflected in housing costs and the overall feel of the community. The college degree rate of 45% signals an educated workforce, and the unemployment rate of 3.2% shows a stable job market, though many residents likely commute into Milwaukee for work, averaging about 24 minutes. Weather-wise, you're dealing with cold Wisconsin winters and moderate summers typical of the region, so outdoor recreation during warmer months is popular—though you'll want reliable heating and snow removal on your budget.
Franklin at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Foreign-Born
8.6%
Broadband Internet
90.6%
of households
Population Growth
+1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.6% 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 (20.6%), and 3.9% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
22.3%
of residents
65 and Older
19.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.7%
of households
Married Couples
59.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.49
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 34% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Franklin
In Franklin, rent runs 34% above the WI average, and home values are 37% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,354
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $436,291 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WI
Unemployment in Franklin and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Franklin is close to the WI 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
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI metro area
Commute23.3 min avg
How Franklin residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Franklin, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 63 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M 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 84% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Franklin runs 84% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
51.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
989.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Franklin Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Milwaukee County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Milwaukee County, which includes Franklin, the most common type is winter weather, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Winter Weather | $65.8M |
| 2024 | 20 | Winter Weather | $87,500 |
| 2023 | 22 | Winter Storm | $97,500 |
| 2022 | 31 | Winter Weather | $116,500 |
| 2021 | 20 | Winter Weather | $21,000 |
| 2020 | 23 | Winter Weather | $10.9M |
| 2019 | 32 | Winter Weather | $66,500 |
| 2018 | 34 | Winter Weather | $555,500 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Milwaukee County, county-wide
Franklin is about 4% of Milwaukee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Milwaukee County, which includes Franklin, is typically good — 228 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
228
per year
Moderate Days
121
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Milwaukee County, county-wide
Franklin is about 4% of Milwaukee County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Franklin has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.4"
Annual Snowfall
48.7"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
159
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 12°F | 1.80" |
| Feb | 33°F | 15°F | 1.87" |
| Mar | 44°F | 24°F | 2.07" |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 4.10" |
| May | 68°F | 46°F | 4.28" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 5.63" |
| Jul | 83°F | 61°F | 3.75" |
| Aug | 81°F | 59°F | 3.79" |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 3.77" |
| Oct | 62°F | 40°F | 3.01" |
| Nov | 47°F | 29°F | 2.28" |
| Dec | 35°F | 18°F | 2.09" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Franklin
Franklin has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Froedtert Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · New Berlin
Aurora St Lukes Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.7 mi away · Milwaukee
Ascension St Francis Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · Milwaukee
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.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Franklin
Franklin's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 44.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
44.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Franklin (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
14.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 16,758 students · in-state tuition $10,916 · 56% graduate · median earnings $59,268 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,660 students · in-state tuition $53,270 · 81% graduate · median earnings $83,810 (10 yrs after entry)
Milwaukee School of Engineering
12.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,654 students · in-state tuition $52,228 · 73% graduate · median earnings $92,761 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,523 students · in-state tuition $40,680 · 67% graduate · median earnings $64,501 (10 yrs after entry)
Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa
11.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 1,037 students · in-state tuition $20,497 · 37% graduate · median earnings $37,469 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 943 students · in-state tuition $37,360 · 63% graduate · median earnings $68,940 (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: Pullman National Historical Park, 85 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Franklin
Franklin has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (85 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
85 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Franklin
Franklin Public Library
9151 W. Loomis Rd., 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, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Franklin's median rent is $1,458/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $106,894/year. Median home value is $364,200.
Is Franklin, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Franklin's violent crime rate was 52 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 990 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Franklin, Wisconsin?⌄
Franklin has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Franklin, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Franklin is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,458/month and median household income is $106,894/year. The median home value is $364,200. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Franklin, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Franklin is 23 minutes, which is about 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