The Town FilesFranklin, North Carolina
Town in Macon County · population 4,175 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $195,000
- Household income
- $47,888
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 48.1
Franklin is a town of 4,175 people in Macon County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $195,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks hipper than 90% of North Carolina towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 70% of North Carolina towns.
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $195,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $47,888, which is more affordable than 41% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $725 a month. 58.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $195,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $725 | $969 |
| Median household income | $47,888 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 58.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.1% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 55.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 8, 2024 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 28, 1984.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Macon County
Macon County had 12,334 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,461 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Franklin
9 public schools with 4,020 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin High | 9-12 | 1,036 | 17.6 |
| Mountain View Intermediate | 5-6 | 605 | 16.4 |
| Macon Middle School | 7-8 | 573 | 14.0 |
| South Macon Elementary | PK-4 | 477 | 12.6 |
| Iotla Valley Elementary | PK-4 | 417 | 12.3 |
| East Franklin Elementary | K-4 | 336 | 11.6 |
| Cartoogechaye Elementary | PK-4 | 332 | 12.8 |
| Macon Early College High School | 9-13 | 137 | 34.3 |
| Bartram Academy | 9-12 | 107 | 26.8 |
Towns near Franklin
- Cullowhee, NC14.4 mi · 7,682 people · home $382,300
- Sylva, NC16.3 mi · 2,578 people · home $201,200
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 65% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 66%. 28.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.1).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $195,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,888, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $725 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.5 inches of precipitation a year and 2.6 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 8, 2024. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)