County · Virginia

Franklin County, Virginia

Franklin County, Virginia. Franklin County had 55,526 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.0% since 2020, slower than Virginia (+2.9%). It holds 8 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 6 census-designated) and 16 census tracts. GEOID 51067.

Franklin County is one of the 6 counties of the Roanoke, VA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

55,526

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 54,477 · ACS 2020-2024: 55,130

Median household income

$68,849

±$3,573 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170

Median home value

$240,400

±$10,259 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700

Median gross rent

$829

±$43 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579

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

The 2020 Census counted 54,477 residents in Franklin County. The Census Bureau estimates 55,526 for July 1, 2025, up 2.0% since 2020, slower than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 55,130 over 691 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +559 (55,037)
2021→2022 +17 (55,054)
2022→2023 +421 (55,475)
2023→2024 +137 (55,612)
2024→2025 −86 (55,526)

Franklin County in Virginia. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Franklin County	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	55,130	8,705,170	−1,057
Households	22,999±482	3,365,732	no clear change
Average household size	2.34±0.05	2.52	no clear change
Housing units	28,408±48	3,684,756	−1,490

Franklin County's population since 2000

From 47,286 in 2000 to 55,526 in 2025: up 17.4%. 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 47,286
2005 (estimate) 51,976
2010 Census 56,159
2015 (estimate) 56,234
2020 Census 54,477
2025 (estimate) 55,526

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 8 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 6 census-designated places. The largest is Rocky Mount with 4,973 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%.

Rocky Mount	town	4,903	4,950±30	$63,280	$207,000	18.6%	100%
North Shore	CDP	3,332	3,638±388	$109,951	$504,400	10.3%	100%
Ferrum	CDP	1,827	1,774±349	$40,435	$188,900	37.1%	100%
Westlake Corner	CDP	1,553	2,033±601	$95,000	$499,000	5.8%	100%
Union Hall	CDP	1,328	1,445±296	$103,125	$694,100	4.4%	100%
Henry ForkGEOID 5136445	CDP	1,120	805±378	$70,150	not published	2.9%	100%
PenhookGEOID 5161464	CDP	782	1,250±465	$108,750	$543,000	0.4%	100%
Boones Mill	town	259	228±69	$75,972	$208,300	3.9%	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 48.4 years old; 18.5% are under 18 and 24.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.8%. 2.1% 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	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	48.4±0.4	39.0	+1.2
Under 18 years	18.5%±0.1 pts	21.7%	–
65 years and over	24.6%±0.1 pts	16.7%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.7%	11.0%	+0.9 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	85.6%±0.2 pts	58.4%	−1.6 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	6.8%±0.5 pts	18.3%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.1 pts	6.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.0%±0.4 pts	4.7%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.6%	–
Born outside the United States	2.1%±0.5 pts	13.1%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.1%±0.6 pts	17.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.9%±1.0 pts	9.4%	–
With a disability	16.0%±1.4 pts	12.5%	–
No health insurance coverage	6.8%±1.4 pts	6.9%	−2.6 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	91.3%±1.3 pts	91.6%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	25.1%±2.1 pts	42.2%	+3.2 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.9%±1.2 pts	18.5%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.7%±0.6 pts	3.1%	–

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 22,999 households earn less than $68,849 a year (±$3,573), against $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $69,231 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Franklin County	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$68,849±$3,573	$93,170	no clear change
Mean household income	$93,658±$5,319	$128,260	–
Per capita income	$39,903±$2,185	$50,666	no clear change
People below the poverty line	12.7%±1.8 pts	9.9%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	21.0%±5.3 pts	12.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	12.8%±1.9 pts	9.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	83.4%±2.0 pts	91.0%	–

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 78.5% of Franklin County's occupied homes and renters 21.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $240,400 by its owner (±$10,259). The median renter pays $829 a month including utilities, and 26.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Franklin County	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$240,400±$10,259	$383,700	+$21,213
Median gross rent	$829±$43	$1,579	−$72
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	26.6%±5.7 pts	39.4%	−9.8 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,408±$83	$2,127	–
Owner-occupied homes	78.5%±2.4 pts	67.3%	−3.2 pts
Housing units	28,408±48	3,684,756	−1,490
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.9%±0.5 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	1.8%±1.8 pts	4.8%	–
Single-family detached homes	74.1%±2.2 pts	61.3%	–
Mobile homes	16.7%±2.0 pts	4.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.2%±0.4 pts	1.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	6.0%±1.0 pts	7.0%	–

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 143 new housing units across Franklin County in 2025 (143 single-family), 2.6 per 1,000 residents.

2019 117 units
2020 147 units
2021 169 units
2022 152 units
2023 174 units
2024 167 units
2025 143 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?

77.5% of Franklin County's workers drive alone and 12.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Franklin County	Virginia	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	54.6%±1.5 pts	65.4%	–
Unemployment rate	2.4%±0.8 pts	4.3%	−2.3 pts
Drove alone to work	77.5%±2.0 pts	67.6%	–
Carpooled	7.7%±1.2 pts	8.0%	–
Public transportation	0.1%±0.1 pts	2.3%	–
Walked	1.6%±0.8 pts	2.1%	–
Worked from home	12.5%±1.6 pts	18.3%	+5.0 pts
Mean travel time to work	30.2 min±1.5	27.3 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 $47,642 (Tract 207.02) to $120,174 (Tract 201.04).

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

Tract 201.0251067020102	Union Hall (38%)	2,721	3,780±717	$93,056	$551,600	$936	4.0%
Tract 201.0351067020103	North Shore (35%)	2,323	2,421±431	$94,128	$426,000	$1,750	11.0%
Tract 201.0451067020104	North Shore (75%)	3,092	3,035±258	$120,174	$625,800	$1,159	5.5%
Tract 20251067020200	Rocky Mount (9%)	5,173	5,243±570	$65,788	$213,700	$621	17.5%
Tract 203.0151067020301	–	2,798	2,258±317	$80,000	$269,900	$940	9.3%
Tract 203.0251067020302	Westlake Corner (47%)	3,559	3,712±591	$86,908	$402,200	$1,096	7.2%
Tract 20451067020400	Rocky Mount (11%)	5,271	5,701±824	$67,258	$217,200	$871	6.0%
Tract 205.0151067020501	Rocky Mount (6%)	3,892	4,326±706	$74,414	$274,200	$808	10.6%
Tract 205.0251067020502	Boones Mill (7%)	4,245	3,882±584	$63,838	$253,400	$697	24.7%
Tract 20651067020600	Ferrum (3%)	3,295	3,384±460	$66,681	$182,800	$698	9.9%
Tract 207.0151067020701	Ferrum (31%)	2,975	3,533±590	$51,250	$165,100	$630	29.9%
Tract 207.0251067020702	–	2,368	2,246±349	$47,642	$187,400	$955	14.7%
Tract 208.0151067020801	Rocky Mount (84%)	3,168	2,831±348	$47,667	$163,800	$898	25.9%
Tract 208.0251067020802	Rocky Mount (29%)	3,400	2,867±403	$57,423	$223,600	$850	13.3%
Tract 209.0151067020901	Penhook (8%)	3,226	2,891±544	$65,208	$110,700	$721	5.2%
Tract 209.0251067020902	–	2,971	3,020±337	$56,818	$253,400	$943	9.6%

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 Virginia's other counties?

Franklin County's rank among Virginia's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	33rd of 133
Growth 2020-2025	63rd of 133
Residents per square mile	81st of 133
Median household income	66th of 133
Median home value	76th of 133
Median gross rent	104th of 133
Poverty rate	57th of 133
Bachelor's degree or higher	74th of 133
Median age	18th of 133

Every county in Virginia

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.