What are the schools like in Franklin, AL?

Franklin is served primarily by Macon County. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.6:1.

What is the median household income in Franklin?

The median household income in Franklin, AL is $81,103 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 21.7%.

What is the weather like in Franklin, AL?

Franklin has an average high temperature of 56.8°F in January and 90.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

Franklin, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Franklin, AL affordable or expensive?

Franklin's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Franklin is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $63,800 and the median rent is $580 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Franklin, AL?

Franklin has a violent crime rate of 487.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 979.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Franklin, AL a Good Place to Live?

Franklin is a small town of 773 in Alabama, with a median household income of $81,103 and a 21.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

Strengths: Franklin stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Franklin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Franklin city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 83.8

Franklin's overall cost of living index is 83.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Franklin costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Franklin, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$63,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$580	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	89.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$81,103	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Franklin's violent crime rate is 487.0 per 100,000 residents — 28% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

487.0 /100k

Property Crime

979.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Franklin is served primarily by Macon County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Franklin, AL	National Avg
School District	Macon County	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Franklin sees average highs of 56.8°F in January and 90.4°F in July, with 54.4 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Franklin, AL
Average High — January	56.8°F
Average High — July	90.4°F
Annual Precipitation	54.4"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Franklin, AL	National Avg
Population	773	—
Median Age	51.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	21.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	21.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	60.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	17.1%	22.2%
65 and over	28.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Tuskegee, AL 6 mi Tallassee, AL 8 mi Reeltown, AL 9 mi Notasulga, AL 10 mi Shorter, AL 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Franklin

Franklin, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

36083

Franklin vs Other Cities

Franklin, AL vs Tuskegee, AL Franklin, AL vs Tallassee, AL Franklin, AL vs Reeltown, AL Franklin, AL vs Notasulga, AL Franklin, AL vs Shorter, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Franklin, AL affordable or expensive?

Franklin's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Franklin roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $63,800 and median rent is $580/month.

What is the crime rate in Franklin, AL?

Franklin's violent crime rate is 487.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 979.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Franklin?

Public schools in Franklin are operated by Macon County. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. 40.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Franklin, AL a good place to live?

Franklin, AL has a population of 773, a median household income of $81,103, and an unemployment rate of 21.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Franklin?

Franklin averages 56.8°F in January and 90.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.4 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Franklin?

Franklin, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36083.

What is the population of Franklin?

The population of Franklin, Alabama is 773 with a median age of 51.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Franklin?

Key numbers for living in Franklin: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $63,800, median household income $81,103, crime index 96 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Franklin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.