City profile · Massachusetts · Census ACS 2023

Franklin, MA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Franklin - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

33,067
Residents
$142,788
Median income
$567,100
Median home
$2,311
Median rent (state)

Franklin - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Franklin places in the 93rd percentile for household income and the 90th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

93rd
percentile, household income
88th
percentile, home value
89th
percentile, median rent
90th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Franklin, MA

Massachusetts's Franklin is a small city, with 33,067 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $142,788 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.2%. Home values in Franklin run a median of $567,100, and the median resident age is 42.1 years. 56.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 67.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 79 residential building permits were authorized in Franklin (Construction Slowdown), down 71% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Franklin reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 382.6 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Massachusetts carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 105.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,311 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Massachusetts's average monthly utility costs around $330 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 92.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

33,067 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Massachusetts

Median Household Income

$142,788 /yr

Poverty 4.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

105.8 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Massachusetts average

How does Franklin compare to other US cities?

Here's how Franklin stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 93% higher than other cities
Home value 88% pricier than other cities
Median rent 89% pricier than other cities
Safety 90% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Massachusetts and the picture shifts: Franklin ranks #25 of 149 Massachusetts cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Franklin against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Massachusetts only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Massachusetts-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher sits close to the middle of Massachusetts's city distribution

Among the 247 Massachusetts cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Franklin ranks #69 - the 72nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Franklin only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#33 of 233
86th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Gross Rent
#101 of 247
39th percentile in Massachusetts
Median Home Value
#97 of 240
60th percentile in Massachusetts
Poverty Rate
#110 of 247
55th percentile in Massachusetts
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#69 of 247
72nd percentile in Massachusetts

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Massachusetts only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

93rdIncome percentile
90thSafety percentile

93rd percentile nationally for median household income · 90th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Franklin's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Franklin's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 65 Avg. percentile National median
Franklin's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Franklin's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$567,100 12th percentile more affordable than 12% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Franklin $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Franklin, MA Franklin, MA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Franklin, MA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Franklin, MA median $142,788/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Franklin, MA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Franklin, MA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 56.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
33,067
Median Income
$142,788
Median Home Value
$567,100
Median Age
42.1
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Labor force participation
67.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
56.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
382.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
94.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
287.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
12
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
32,000 residents32,500 residents33,000 residents33,500 residents34,000 residents34,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 32,323 residents 33,955 residents ▲ +5.0%
Franklin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
79
housing units authorized
Single-Family
51
detached homes
Multifamily
28
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 269
2020 248
2021 300
2022 254
2023 41
2024 79

Permit volume decreased 71% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
67.2%
Carpool
4.7%
Public Transit
3.3%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
21.5%
Other
1.6%

Based on 18,055 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Massachusetts - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$160
avg/month
Natural Gas
$110
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$330
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Massachusetts state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Massachusetts state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Franklin sits in

Cost of Living Index
105.8
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,311/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Massachusetts

Needham
32,059 people
Lexington
34,085 people
Randolph
34,683 people
Norwood
31,380 people
Watertown
35,270 people
North Attleborough
30,842 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Franklin's 33,067 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Dover, NH
33,070 people
Bethel Park, PA
33,070 people
Salisbury, MD
33,080 people
East Lake, FL
33,019 people
Martinez, GA
33,019 people
Helena, MT
33,126 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Franklin's $142,788 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Winding Cypress, FL
$142,819 median income
The Hills, NJ
$142,750 median income
Ball Pond, CT
$142,727 median income
Oakhurst, NJ
$142,727 median income
Prairie View, KS
$142,717 median income
Casa Conejo, CA
$142,708 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Franklin, MA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Franklin, MA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.2% 6.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.0% White 85.2% Black or African American 2.0% Asian 6.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 5.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Franklin compares to nearby Massachusetts cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Franklin (this city) 33,067 $142,788
Needham 32,059 $212,241
Lexington 34,085 $219,402
Randolph 34,683 $103,129
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Franklin, MA?

What is the population of Franklin, MA? +

33,067 people live in Franklin, MA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Franklin, MA? +

In Franklin, the typical household earns $142,788 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Franklin? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Franklin; the closest available measure is the Massachusetts state average, a cost of living index of 105.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Massachusetts vary by metro area.

Is Franklin, MA safe? +

Franklin has a total crime rate of 382.6 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Franklin, MA? +

The median home value in Franklin is $567,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.