The Town FilesFranklin, Minnesota
Township in Wright County · population 2,885 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $637,800
- Household income
- $112,171
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.3
Franklin is a township of 2,885 people in Wright County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $637,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for families than 93% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 92% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 85% of Minnesota towns.
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $637,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $112,171, which is more affordable than 2% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,721 a month. 94.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $637,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,721 | $991 |
| Median household income | $112,171 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 94.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.2% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 28.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 2.7°F. About 31.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 83 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 5, 2019.
Severe weather in Wright County since 1996
Wright County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wright County
Wright County had 48,758 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,999 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Franklin
- Delano, MN2.5 mi · 6,484 people · home $375,200
- Montrose, MN4.7 mi · 3,775 people · home $275,700
- Watertown, MN4.7 mi · 4,659 people · home $337,200
- Independence, MN6.0 mi · 3,755 people · home $663,400
- Rockford, MN6.4 mi · 4,500 people · home $329,200
- Rockford, MN6.7 mi · 3,371 people · home $404,900
- Greenfield, MN8.7 mi · 2,903 people · home $567,700
- Minnetrista, MN8.8 mi · 8,262 people · home $658,300
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 54% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 22%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $637,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,171, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $1,721 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 2.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.7 inches of precipitation a year and 45.1 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)