County · Illinois

Franklin County, Illinois

Franklin County, Illinois. Franklin County had 36,916 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 29 places (16 cities, villages and boroughs, 12 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 12 census tracts. GEOID 17055.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

36,916

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 37,804 · ACS 2020-2024: 37,323

Median household income

$56,740

±$3,913 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$89,000

±$3,455 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$803

±$51 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

How many people live in Franklin County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 37,804 residents in Franklin County. The Census Bureau estimates 36,916 for July 1, 2025, down 2.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 37,323 over 409 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −234 (37,460)
2021→2022 −266 (37,194)
2022→2023 −89 (37,105)
2023→2024 −151 (36,954)
2024→2025 −38 (36,916)

Franklin County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Franklin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	37,323	12,694,798	−1,600
Households	16,137±344	5,036,449	no clear change
Average household size	2.28±0.05	2.46	−0.09
Housing units	18,462±45	5,457,452	−197

Franklin County's population since 2000

From 39,018 in 2000 to 36,916 in 2025: down 5.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 39,018
2005 (estimate) 39,587
2010 Census 39,561
2015 (estimate) 39,398
2020 Census 37,804
2025 (estimate) 36,916

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Franklin County?

Franklin County holds 29 places: 16 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 12 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Benton Township, Franklin County with 8,535 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Franklin County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Benton Township, Franklin County	township	8,662	8,623±39	$55,610	$84,500	17.1%	100%
West Frankfort	city	7,275	7,118±447	$47,898	$81,200	29.0%	100%
Benton	city	6,709	6,863±463	$54,123	$87,200	17.7%	100%
Frankfort Township, Franklin County	township	6,443	6,340±22	$57,250	$89,900	23.2%	100%
Denning Township	township	4,729	4,682±35	$52,917	$82,800	23.5%	100%
Tyrone Township	township	4,706	4,636±23	$50,878	$83,400	15.7%	100%
Six Mile Township	township	3,536	3,496±20	$56,437	$76,600	10.2%	100%
Christopher	city	2,697	2,570±218	$48,247	$66,600	20.8%	100%
Goode Township	township	2,652	2,604±28	$59,420	$91,200	19.6%	100%
Browning Township, Franklin County	township	2,436	2,145±256	$53,125	$89,400	14.1%	100%
Sesser	city	1,888	2,023±178	$52,604	$82,300	19.6%	100%
Cave Township	township	1,683	1,549±241	$62,526	$113,400	11.2%	100%
Zeigler	city	1,484	1,267±193	$41,553	$57,300	16.2%	100%
Ewing Township	township	1,361	2,020±300	$74,073	$159,000	14.3%	100%
Royalton	village	1,068	1,214±259	$59,219	$71,500	11.0%	100%
West City	village	656	662±136	$48,750	$71,400	20.4%	100%
Eastern Township	township	589	600±126	$60,781	$132,200	18.0%	100%
Valier	village	554	523±146	$27,305	$80,100	33.7%	100%
Barren TownshipGEOID 1705503818	township	551	311±153	$94,297	$157,100	0.0%	100%
North City	village	509	715±159	$53,977	$114,100	5.5%	100%
Thompsonville	village	486	500±140	$46,058	$84,500	18.0%	100%
Northern Township	township	456	317±84	$81,719	$129,700	6.6%	100%
Buckner	village	409	276±72	$46,364	$69,300	31.2%	100%
Orient	city	327	417±163	$39,750	$49,800	40.9%	100%
Hanaford	village	320	332±89	$60,750	$54,500	12.3%	100%
Ewing	village	300	341±94	$70,833	$94,500	12.0%	100%
MulkeytownGEOID 1751310	CDP	162	117±76	$32,438	$73,700	31.6%	100%
Freeman SpurGEOID 1727858	village	268	149±63	$35,000	$60,600	24.2%	47%
MacedoniaGEOID 1745642	village	30	31±23	not published	not published	32.3%	40%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Franklin County?

The median resident of Franklin County is 43.4 years old; 22.1% are under 18 and 21.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.8%. 1.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Franklin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.4±0.5	39.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.1%	21.8%	–
65 years and over	21.0%±0.2 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.0%	18.8%	+0.3 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	94.1%±0.4 pts	58.1%	−1.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	13.3%	−0.3 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	5.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.8%±0.4 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	1.2%±0.4 pts	14.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	2.7%±0.7 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.2%±0.9 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	21.3%±1.4 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	7.3%±1.1 pts	6.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	89.6%±1.4 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	15.8%±1.5 pts	37.8%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.1%±0.8 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.7%±0.3 pts	1.6%	–

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 County earn?

Half of Franklin County's 16,137 households earn less than $56,740 a year (±$3,913), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $52,636 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Franklin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$56,740±$3,913	$83,390	no clear change
Mean household income	$72,759±$3,669	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$31,012±$1,381	$46,406	no clear change
People below the poverty line	17.5%±2.2 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	23.8%±4.9 pts	15.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	25.8%±2.2 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	83.4%±1.5 pts	90.8%	–

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 County?

Owners occupy 74.1% of Franklin County's occupied homes and renters 25.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $89,000 by its owner (±$3,455). The median renter pays $803 a month including utilities, and 39.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Franklin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$89,000±$3,455	$263,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$803±$51	$1,274	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	39.3%±5.4 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,171±$44	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	74.1%±2.0 pts	67.1%	no clear change
Housing units	18,462±45	5,457,452	−197
Homeowner vacancy rate	3.0%±1.4 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	1.9%±1.6 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	79.1%±2.0 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	10.3%±1.4 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.7%±0.4 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	22.9%±1.9 pts	20.2%	–

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 many new homes is Franklin County building?

Builders took permits for 19 new housing units across Franklin County in 2025 (15 single-family), 0.5 per 1,000 residents.

2019 7 units
2020 12 units
2021 13 units
2022 7 units
2023 18 units
2024 15 units
2025 19 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Franklin County get to work?

79.4% of Franklin County's workers drive alone and 7.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Franklin County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	56.0%±1.5 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	7.7%±1.4 pts	5.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	79.4%±1.8 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	10.3%±1.8 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.2 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	1.4%±0.6 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	7.2%±1.2 pts	15.9%	+3.4 pts
Mean travel time to work	26.9 min±1.3	27.8 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 are Franklin County's census tracts?

Franklin County is divided into 12 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $43,778 (Tract 409) to $87,222 (Tract 408).

Census tracts of Franklin County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 40117055040100	Sesser (63%)	3,025	2,739±126	$58,357	$99,400	$724	18.6%
Tract 40217055040200	Valier (19%)	2,979	2,884±259	$62,109	$101,700	$1,051	11.4%
Tract 40317055040300	Christopher (80%)	3,046	2,928±210	$48,794	$68,600	$735	18.8%
Tract 40417055040400	Zeigler (27%)	3,636	3,589±63	$56,494	$77,100	$924	10.2%
Tract 40517055040500	Benton (36%)	3,053	3,284±393	$61,006	$136,500	$729	9.1%
Tract 40617055040600	Benton (65%)	2,640	2,586±331	$57,875	$104,000	$773	15.8%
Tract 40717055040700	Benton (47%)	4,370	4,420±405	$51,838	$75,600	$944	23.2%
Tract 40817055040800	Orient (5%)	3,259	3,327±411	$87,222	$129,400	$828	11.0%
Tract 40917055040900	West Frankfort (89%)	2,313	2,325±342	$43,778	$62,100	$575	29.1%
Tract 41017055041000	West Frankfort (95%)	2,541	2,331±291	$47,285	$81,400	$590	36.8%
Tract 41117055041100	West Frankfort (73%)	3,298	3,204±311	$52,353	$106,100	$818	20.8%
Tract 41217055041200	Thompsonville (7%)	3,644	3,706±329	$65,856	$111,900	$772	12.9%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Franklin County compare with Illinois's other counties?

Franklin County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	35th of 102
Growth 2020-2025	55th of 102
Residents per square mile	24th of 102
Median household income	91st of 102
Median home value	99th of 102
Median gross rent	55th of 102
Poverty rate	11th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	91st of 102
Median age	36th of 102

Every county in Illinois

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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' school search.