The Town FilesFranklin, Louisiana
City in St. Mary Parish · population 6,728 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $104,400
- Household income
- $39,518
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 37.7
Franklin is a city of 6,728 people in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $104,400, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Louisiana towns, more seaside character than 94% of Louisiana towns, more walkable than 85% of Louisiana towns.
- #3 in 25 Small Towns in Louisiana With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #15 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Louisiana
- #21 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in America
- #21 in 25 Small Towns in Louisiana With the Mildest Winters
- #25 in 25 Small Towns in Louisiana With the Cheapest Homes
- #27 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Places in America
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among Louisiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Louisiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $104,400, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $39,518, which is more affordable than 71% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $814 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,400 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $814 | $887 |
| Median household income | $39,518 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.9% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.3% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 84.6% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 43.7°F. About 65.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 10 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 16, 1971 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 23, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on February 21, 2010.
Severe weather in St. Mary Parish since 1996
St. Mary Parish has been included in 49 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 16, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4817: Hurricane Francine |
| September 10, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3614: Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 27, 2023 | Other | EM-3600: Seawater Intrusion |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
Jobs and pay in St. Mary Parish
St. Mary Parish had 19,838 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,932 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Franklin
5 public schools with 1,501 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| V. B. Glencoe Charter School (charter) | PK-12 | 517 | 14.0 |
| Franklin Senior High School | 9-12 | 297 | 12.4 |
| W.P. Foster Elementary School | PK-5 | 262 | 13.8 |
| LaGrange Elementary School | PK-5 | 215 | 12.6 |
| Franklin Junior High School | 6-8 | 210 | 11.1 |
Towns near Franklin
- Jeanerette, LA13.4 mi · 4,813 people · home $98,200
- Patterson, LA13.6 mi · 5,931 people · home $160,400
- Bayou Vista, LA15.9 mi · 4,213 people · home $144,700
- Berwick, LA17.5 mi · 4,771 people · home $212,400
- Morgan City, LA19.8 mi · 11,472 people · home $155,200
- Pierre Part, LA21.8 mi · 3,024 people · home $176,000
- New Iberia, LA24.1 mi · 28,555 people · home $158,300
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 50% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 37%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $104,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,518, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $814 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 43.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 65.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 16, 1971. The typical Louisiana town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)