Town · North Carolina
Franklin, North Carolina
Franklin, town, in Macon County, North Carolina. Franklin had 4,403 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 4,175 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,268 (±26). GEOID 3724640.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,403
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,175 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,268 ±26
Median household income
$47,888
±$4,336 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$195,000
±$24,123 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$725
±$85 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Franklin and what county is it in?
Franklin is a town in Macon County, North Carolina. It covers 4.9 square miles of land, 845 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Franklin, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,403 people lived in Franklin on July 1, 2025, up 5.7% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 4,175 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 4,268 (±26).
| Measure | Franklin | Macon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,268 ±26 | 37,941 | +288 |
| Households | 2,284 ±251 | 18,406 | +467 |
| Average household size | 1.86 ±0.20 | 2.04 | −0.32 |
| Housing units | 2,527 ±263 | 27,216 | no clear change |
Franklin's population since 2000
From 3,490 in 2000 to 4,403 in 2025: up 26.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Franklin as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Franklin?
The median resident of Franklin is 48.1 years old; 14.2% are under 18 and 28.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 9.0%. 8.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Franklin | Macon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 ±4.4 | 49.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 14.2% ±5.4 pts | 17.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 28.8% ±6.0 pts | 29.2% | – |
| Male | 45.3% ±5.4 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.0% ±5.8 pts | 10.0% | −13.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.6% ±6.4 pts | 85.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.2% ±4.0 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.4% ±4.9 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.0% ±4.3 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.1% ±4.2 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.2% ±3.3 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 18.8% ±5.2 pts | 15.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.2% ±4.0 pts | 13.7% | −10.1 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.4% ±4.7 pts | 89.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.6% ±5.7 pts | 27.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.7% ±4.1 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.6% ±5.1 pts | 86.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7% ±1.4 pts | 3.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Franklin earn?
Half of Franklin's 2,284 households earn less than $47,888 a year (±$4,336), against $59,061 in Macon County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $44,470 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Franklin | Macon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $47,888 ±$4,336 | $59,061 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $66,825 ±$9,904 | $82,980 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,501 ±$4,806 | $38,705 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.7% ±7.0 pts | 11.6% | −11.0 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.7% ±25.2 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.0% ±6.3 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.3% ±6.1 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.5% ±8.1 pts | 83.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Franklin?
Owners occupy 58.2% of Franklin's occupied homes and renters 41.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $195,000 by its owner (±$24,123). The median renter pays $725 a month including utilities, and 34.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Franklin | Macon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $195,000 ±$24,123 | $251,900 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $725 ±$85 | $803 | −$197 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.2% ±14.8 pts | 34.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,210 ±$193 | $1,247 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 58.2% ±8.5 pts | 77.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 41.8% ±8.5 pts | 22.4% | – |
| Housing units | 2,527 ±263 | 27,216 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±4.3 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.3% ±7.4 pts | 76.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.7% ±3.1 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.9% ±3.6 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.1% ±4.9 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.6% ±4.7 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Franklin work and get to work?
85.1% of Franklin's workers drive alone and 5.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.1 minutes.
| Measure | Franklin | Macon County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.3% ±6.7 pts | 53.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.3% ±1.8 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 85.1% ±6.4 pts | 80.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.1% ±6.7 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.0% ±3.2 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.1 min ±4.9 | 22.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Franklin?
1 census tract lies mostly in Franklin, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9703.04Macon County | 2,523 | $46,864 |
| Tract 9703.02Macon County | 4,659 | $57,488 |
| Tract 9707Macon County | 6,684 | $54,682 |
| Tract 9703.03Macon County | 1,801 | $53,810 |
| Tract 9706Macon County | 6,447 | $67,318 |
| Tract 9704Macon County | 3,980 | $42,041 |
| Tract 9701Macon County | 3,513 | $62,371 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Franklin) · Census block assignment files
How does Franklin compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Franklin is the 5,267th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 173rd-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Franklin ranks 333rd of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 173rd | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 137th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 244th | 443 |
| Median household income | 333rd | 434 |
| Per capita income | 216th | 443 |
| Median home value | 306th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 354th | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 207th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 220th | 421 |
| Median age | 88th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 300th | 443 |
| Work from home | 268th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 261st | 439 |
Franklin's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Franklin with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Franklin?
18 of the 57 figures for Franklin on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Franklin are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Franklin.