The Town FilesFranklin Lakes, New Jersey
Borough in Bergen County · population 11,079 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,264,000
- Household income
- $235,795
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 46.3
Franklin Lakes is a borough of 11,079 people in Bergen County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $1,264,000, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more upscale than 96% of New Jersey towns, better for families than 92% of New Jersey towns, better for retirees than 91% of New Jersey towns.
How Franklin Lakes ranks
Percentile among New Jersey 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 Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin Lakes is worth $1,264,000, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $235,795, which is more affordable than 13% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $3,230 a month. 88.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin Lakes | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,264,000 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $3,230 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $235,795 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.9% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Franklin Lakes
| People | Franklin Lakes | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 77.4% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.4% | — |
| Work from home | 32.3% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 36.5 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.8% | 94.6% |
Weather in Franklin Lakes
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.3 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin Lakes since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 7, 1962 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 7, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 8, 2021.
Severe weather in Bergen County since 1996
Bergen County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Bergen County
Bergen County had 438,240 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $80,639 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Franklin Lakes itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Franklin Lakes
5 public schools with 2,389 students, about 9.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramapo High School | 9-12 | 1,188 | 10.2 |
| Franklin Avenue Middle School | 6-8 | 377 | 7.1 |
| High Mountain Road School | PK-5 | 297 | 10.2 |
| Woodside Avenue School | K-5 | 281 | 10.4 |
| Colonial Road School | PK-5 | 246 | 7.2 |
Towns near Franklin Lakes
- Wyckoff, NJ2.0 mi · 16,585 people · home $925,700
- Oakland, NJ2.4 mi · 12,748 people · home $591,300
- Pines Lake, NJ3.1 mi · 3,033 people · home $626,500
- North Haledon, NJ3.2 mi · 8,927 people · home $547,600
- Midland Park, NJ3.5 mi · 7,014 people · home $607,200
- Allendale, NJ4.1 mi · 6,848 people · home $782,700
- Waldwick, NJ4.2 mi · 10,058 people · home $588,500
- Pompton Lakes, NJ4.2 mi · 11,127 people · home $442,400
Franklin Lakes questions
Is Franklin Lakes, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin Lakes scores better for retirees than 91% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 58%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Franklin Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin Lakes is valued at $1,264,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $235,795, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $3,230 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin Lakes?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 28.3 inches of snow.
Does Franklin Lakes get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin Lakes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 7, 1962. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)