What are the schools like in Franklin, VA?

Franklin is served primarily by Franklin City Public Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1.

What is the median household income in Franklin?

The median household income in Franklin, VA is $57,537 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.

What is the weather like in Franklin, VA?

Franklin has an average high temperature of 50.1°F in January and 88.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 4.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Franklin, VA affordable or expensive?

Franklin's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Franklin is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $197,900 and the median rent is $925 per month.

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

Franklin has a violent crime rate of 460.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2538.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Franklin, VA a Good Place to Live?

Franklin is a small town of 8,194 in Virginia, with a median household income of $57,537 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Franklin stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), 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: 97.4

Franklin's overall cost of living index is 97.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Franklin costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Franklin, VA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$197,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$925	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,537	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Franklin's violent crime rate is 460.5 per 100,000 residents — 21% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

460.5 /100k

Property Crime

2538.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Franklin is served primarily by Franklin City Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Franklin, VA	National Avg
School District	Franklin City Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Franklin sees average highs of 50.1°F in January and 88.9°F in July, with 47.9 inches of annual precipitation and 4.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Franklin, VA
Average High — January	50.1°F
Average High — July	88.9°F
Annual Precipitation	47.9"
Annual Snowfall	4.1"

Demographics

Metric	Franklin, VA	National Avg
Population	8,194	—
Median Age	38.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	38.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	51.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.8%	18.9%
Asian	3.4%	6.3%
Under 18	25.7%	22.2%
65 and over	19.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Camptown, VA 3 mi Carrsville, VA 6 mi Southampton Meadows, VA 6 mi Courtland, VA 7 mi Sedley, VA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Franklin

Franklin, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

23851

Franklin vs Other Cities

Franklin, VA vs Camptown, VA Franklin, VA vs Carrsville, VA Franklin, VA vs Southampton Meadows, VA Franklin, VA vs Courtland, VA Franklin, VA vs Sedley, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Franklin, VA affordable or expensive?

Franklin's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Franklin roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $197,900 and median rent is $925/month.

What is the crime rate in Franklin, VA?

Franklin's violent crime rate is 460.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2538.7 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 Franklin City Public Schools. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Franklin, VA a good place to live?

Franklin, VA has a population of 8,194, a median household income of $57,537, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%. 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 50.1°F in January and 88.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.9 inches with about 4.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Franklin?

Franklin, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 23851.

What is the population of Franklin?

The population of Franklin, Virginia is 8,194 with a median age of 38.8. 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 97 (100 = US average), median home $197,900, median household income $57,537, crime index 121 (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.