City profile · Virginia · Census ACS 2023

Franklin, VA

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.

8,212
Residents
$65,125
Median income
$227,200
Median home
$1,051
Median rent (state)

Franklin - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Franklin places in the 43rd percentile for household income and the 16th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

43rd
percentile, household income
50th
percentile, home value
24th
percentile, median rent
16th
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, VA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 8,212 residents in Franklin, a small town within Virginia. The typical household in Franklin brings in $65,125 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.3%. Home values in Franklin run a median of $227,200, and the median resident age is 40.5 years. 26.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). Franklin's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2999.2 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Virginia tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 101.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,051 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $235 across Virginia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 7.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

8,212 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Virginia

Median Household Income

$65,125 /yr

Poverty 10.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

101.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Virginia 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 43% higher than other cities
Home value 50% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% pricier than other cities
Safety 16% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Virginia and the picture shifts: Franklin ranks #94 of 117 Virginia cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Franklin's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Virginia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

43rdIncome percentile
16thSafety percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income · 16th 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 41 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+)

$227,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 50% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $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, VA Franklin, VA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Franklin, VA-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, VA median $65,125/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, VA'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, VA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.0%

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

Population
8,212
Median Income
$65,125
Median Home Value
$227,200
Median Age
40.5
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Labor force participation
57.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2999.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
460.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2538.7
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
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,100 residents8,200 residents8,300 residents8,400 residents8,500 residents8,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,147 residents 8,478 residents ▲ +4.1%
Franklin's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.0%
Carpool
3.2%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
4.5%
Work from Home
3.4%
Other
2.8%

Based on 3,512 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Virginia 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 Virginia 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
101.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,051/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
7.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Virginia

Wytheville
8,224 people
Lake of the Woods
8,165 people
Fort Belvoir
8,107 people
Fort Lee
8,318 people
Abingdon
8,332 people
Vinton
8,038 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Franklin's 8,212 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Barberton, WA
8,213 people
Bay Minette, AL
8,215 people
Price, UT
8,216 people
Rawlins, WY
8,217 people
Orono, MN
8,205 people
Croton-on-Hudson, NY
8,205 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Franklin's $65,125 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Washburn, MO
$65,125 median income
Fessenden, ND
$65,125 median income
Platte City, MO
$65,132 median income
Portland, MI
$65,116 median income
McIntosh, NM
$65,116 median income
Victory, NY
$65,114 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Franklin, VA 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, VA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 38.1% 51.7% 7.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.1% White 38.1% Black or African American 51.7% Asian 2.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.7% Two or more races 7.2% 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 Virginia 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) 8,212 $65,125
Wytheville 8,224 $43,283
Lake of the Woods 8,165 $112,917
Fort Belvoir 8,107 $101,237
Census ACS 5-year FIPS VA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Franklin, VA?

What is the population of Franklin, VA? +

Franklin, VA counts 8,212 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Franklin, the typical household earns $65,125 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 Virginia state average, a cost of living index of 101.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Virginia vary by metro area.

Is Franklin, VA safe? +

Franklin has a total crime rate of 2999.2 per 100,000 residents, which is above 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, VA? +

Homes in Franklin carry a median value of $227,200, 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 Editorial

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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.