What are the schools like in Franklin, NC?

Franklin is served primarily by Macon County Schools. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Franklin?

The median household income in Franklin, NC is $38,947 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.7%.

What is the weather like in Franklin, NC?

Franklin has an average high temperature of 48.3°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Franklin, NC affordable or expensive?

Franklin's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Franklin is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $164,900 and the median rent is $824 per month.

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

Franklin has a violent crime rate of 251.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2901.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Franklin, NC a Good Place to Live?

Franklin is a small town of 4,184 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $38,947 and a 3.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Franklin stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 91.4

Franklin's overall cost of living index is 91.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Franklin costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Franklin, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$164,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$824	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$38,947	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Franklin's violent crime rate is 251.3 per 100,000 residents — 34% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

251.3 /100k

Property Crime

2901.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Franklin is served primarily by Macon County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Franklin, NC	National Avg
School District	Macon County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Franklin sees average highs of 48.3°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 55.5 inches of annual precipitation and 2.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Franklin, NC
Average High — January	48.3°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	55.5"
Annual Snowfall	2.6"

Demographics

Metric	Franklin, NC	National Avg
Population	4,184	—
Median Age	48.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	18.7%	22.2%
65 and over	25.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Forest Hills, NC 13 mi Highlands, NC 14 mi Sky Valley, GA 14 mi Dillard, GA 14 mi Cullowhee, NC 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Franklin

Franklin, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28734

Franklin vs Other Cities

Franklin, NC vs Forest Hills, NC Franklin, NC vs Highlands, NC Franklin, NC vs Sky Valley, GA Franklin, NC vs Dillard, GA Franklin, NC vs Cullowhee, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Franklin, NC affordable or expensive?

Franklin's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Franklin roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $164,900 and median rent is $824/month.

What is the crime rate in Franklin, NC?

Franklin's violent crime rate is 251.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2901.5 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 Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 21.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Franklin, NC a good place to live?

Franklin, NC has a population of 4,184, a median household income of $38,947, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%. 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 48.3°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.5 inches with about 2.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Franklin?

Franklin, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28734.

What is the population of Franklin?

The population of Franklin, North Carolina is 4,184 with a median age of 48.0. 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 91 (100 = US average), median home $164,900, median household income $38,947, crime index 95 (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.