The Town FilesFranklin, New Hampshire
City in Merrimack County · population 8,741 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $262,200
- Household income
- $71,648
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 42.7
Franklin is a city of 8,741 people in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $262,200, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more walkable than 89% of New Hampshire towns, more vibrant than 70% of New Hampshire towns.
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $262,200, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $71,648, which is more affordable than 56% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,110 a month. 64.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,200 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,110 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $71,648 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.2% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.3% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 92.5% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.3 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 31, 1972 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 13, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 12, 1970.
Severe weather in Merrimack County since 1996
Merrimack County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| January 2, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4355: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Merrimack County
Merrimack County had 77,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,857 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Franklin
3 public schools with 889 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Middle School | 4-8 | 331 | 11.4 |
| Paul A. Smith School | PK-3 | 281 | 9.7 |
| Franklin High School | 9-13 | 277 | 16.3 |
Towns near Franklin
- Tilton Northfield, NH3.9 mi · 3,324 people · home $250,000
- Tilton, NH4.8 mi · 3,962 people · home $216,700
- Sanbornton, NH5.9 mi · 3,026 people · home $452,300
- Northfield, NH6.8 mi · 4,872 people · home $288,500
- Belmont, NH9.5 mi · 7,314 people · home $316,300
- Boscawen, NH9.8 mi · 3,998 people · home $286,500
- Bristol, NH12.0 mi · 3,244 people · home $258,300
- Laconia, NH12.7 mi · 16,871 people · home $340,300
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 51% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 30%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $262,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,648, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,110 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 67.3 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 31, 1972. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- 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)