County · North Carolina

Franklin County, North Carolina

Franklin County, North Carolina. Franklin County had 82,037 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 19.5% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). It holds 7 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs and 2 census-designated) and 16 census tracts. GEOID 37069.

Franklin County is one of the 3 counties of the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

82,037

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 68,573 · ACS 2020-2024: 74,386

Median household income

$74,240

±$3,647 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388

Median home value

$284,300

±$14,000 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900

Median gross rent

$1,083

±$36 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228

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

The 2020 Census counted 68,573 residents in Franklin County. The Census Bureau estimates 82,037 for July 1, 2025, up 19.5% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 74,386 over 492 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +2,668 (71,697)
2021→2022 +2,597 (74,294)
2022→2023 +2,745 (77,039)
2023→2024 +2,891 (79,930)
2024→2025 +2,107 (82,037)

Franklin County in North Carolina. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Franklin County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	74,386	10,730,404	+8,024
Households	28,529±518	4,282,345	+3,148
Average household size	2.56±0.05	2.44	no clear change
Housing units	31,767±43	4,895,668	+3,260

Franklin County's population since 2000

From 47,260 in 2000 to 82,037 in 2025: up 73.6%. 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 47,260
2005 (estimate) 54,260
2010 Census 60,619
2015 (estimate) 63,667
2020 Census 68,573
2025 (estimate) 82,037

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 7 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Lake Royale with 3,168 residents (2020-2024). 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%.

Lake Royale	CDP	3,392	3,168±704	$107,806	$280,400	7.3%	100%
Louisburg	town	3,064	3,263±17	$38,036	$262,500	34.1%	100%
Franklinton	town	2,456	2,645±35	$59,464	$249,100	17.2%	100%
Youngsville	town	2,016	3,011±911	$86,528	$434,100	14.3%	100%
Wake Forest	town	47,601	52,844±42	$123,802	$474,500	4.5%	3%
Bunn	town	327	466±223	$68,289	$256,300	6.4%	100%
CentervilleGEOID 3711560	CDP	149	202±182	$143,523	$162,900	0.0%	100%

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 41.0 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 17.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 60.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 22.5%. 6.0% 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	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.0±0.5	39.1	no clear change
Under 18 years	21.8%	21.8%	–
65 years and over	17.5%±0.2 pts	17.2%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	11.2%	11.3%	+2.8 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	60.7%±0.3 pts	60.0%	−2.8 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	22.5%±0.8 pts	20.0%	−2.3 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.1%±0.1 pts	3.3%	+0.6 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.8%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.1%±0.8 pts	4.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	6.0%±0.7 pts	9.1%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	9.5%±0.8 pts	13.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	8.1%±0.9 pts	7.4%	–
With a disability	16.0%±1.0 pts	13.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	9.2%±1.0 pts	9.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	88.4%±1.4 pts	90.1%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	27.0%±1.8 pts	35.7%	+5.0 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.9%±1.0 pts	13.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.4%±0.5 pts	3.0%	–

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 28,529 households earn less than $74,240 a year (±$3,647), against $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $67,926 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $6,314 after inflation. 11.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Franklin County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$74,240±$3,647	$72,388	+$6,314
Mean household income	$92,255±$5,165	$101,208	–
Per capita income	$36,103±$1,914	$41,385	+$2,512
People below the poverty line	11.1%±1.8 pts	13.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	14.4%±4.0 pts	17.7%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	12.4%±1.6 pts	12.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	89.0%±1.7 pts	90.1%	–

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 78.6% of Franklin County's occupied homes and renters 21.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $284,300 by its owner (±$14,000). The median renter pays $1,083 a month including utilities, and 46.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Franklin County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$284,300±$14,000	$288,900	+$99,204
Median gross rent	$1,083±$36	$1,228	+$63
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	46.5%±6.3 pts	39.6%	+13.8 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,622±$56	$1,631	–
Owner-occupied homes	78.6%±2.1 pts	66.6%	+4.8 pts
Housing units	31,767±43	4,895,668	+3,260
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.8%±0.5 pts	1.3%	–
Rental vacancy rate	2.4%±1.7 pts	7.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	71.5%±2.0 pts	65.3%	–
Mobile homes	23.5%±2.0 pts	11.0%	–
Built 2020 or later	5.9%±1.1 pts	3.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	5.2%±1.2 pts	4.9%	–

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 735 new housing units across Franklin County in 2025 (735 single-family), 9.0 per 1,000 residents.

2019 918 units
2020 913 units
2021 1,141 units
2022 945 units
2023 843 units
2024 948 units
2025 735 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?

76.9% of Franklin County's workers drive alone and 12.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 33.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Franklin County	North Carolina	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	61.8%±1.4 pts	62.8%	–
Unemployment rate	4.6%±1.0 pts	4.7%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	76.9%±1.9 pts	71.5%	–
Carpooled	9.6%±1.4 pts	8.5%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.7%	–
Walked	0.7%±0.3 pts	1.6%	–
Worked from home	12.5%±1.7 pts	16.3%	+7.8 pts
Mean travel time to work	33.3 min±1.3	25.1 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 16 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $41,172 (Tract 607.02) to $99,677 (Tract 607.03).

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

Tract 60137069060100	–	4,420	5,064±749	$63,460	$151,700	$1,005	16.0%
Tract 60237069060200	Centerville (5%)	3,279	3,151±384	$53,450	$153,900	$870	10.7%
Tract 603.0137069060301	Louisburg (58%)	5,514	5,822±615	$58,997	$194,500	$1,070	24.0%
Tract 603.0237069060302	Louisburg (54%)	2,647	3,000±474	$55,238	$215,600	$872	29.3%
Tract 604.0137069060401	Franklinton (13%)	2,678	2,959±623	$67,889	$217,700	$1,000	14.9%
Tract 604.0337069060403	Franklinton (65%)	2,593	2,368±367	$53,718	$214,500	$943	7.7%
Tract 604.0437069060404	Franklinton (43%)	3,241	3,459±479	$60,313	$289,600	$791	14.3%
Tract 605.0137069060501	Youngsville (13%)	9,585	11,491±762	$95,195	$398,400	$1,132	8.3%
Tract 605.0237069060502	Youngsville (26%)	9,754	10,742±823	$95,612	$376,000	$1,346	3.9%
Tract 606.0137069060601	–	2,946	3,366±724	$96,667	$322,300	$1,431	2.4%
Tract 606.0237069060602	–	6,640	6,749±902	$74,569	$233,600	$1,163	9.0%
Tract 607.0137069060701	–	1,329	1,404±301	$55,250	$125,000	$981	8.9%
Tract 607.0237069060702	Lake Royale (59%)	2,063	2,708±734	$41,172	$217,700	$1,319	15.9%
Tract 607.0337069060703	Lake Royale (95%)	2,423	2,494±669	$99,677	$278,400	not published	9.7%
Tract 608.0137069060801	Bunn (27%)	4,142	4,538±510	$53,661	$238,200	$775	12.2%
Tract 608.0237069060802	–	5,319	5,071±644	$64,281	$222,600	$1,185	8.0%

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 North Carolina's other counties?

Franklin County's rank among North Carolina's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	37th of 100
Growth 2020-2025	3rd of 100
Residents per square mile	42nd of 100
Median household income	20th of 100
Median home value	26th of 100
Median gross rent	33rd of 100
Poverty rate	80th of 100
Bachelor's degree or higher	37th of 100
Median age	65th of 100

Every county in North Carolina

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.