The Town FilesFranklin, Virginia
City in Franklin city · population 8,180 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $256,600
- Household income
- $63,245
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 38.3
Franklin is a city of 8,180 people in Franklin city, Virginia. The median home is worth $256,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks easier by car than 81% of Virginia towns.
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $256,600, below the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $63,245, which is more affordable than 37% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $988 a month. 53.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $256,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $988 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $63,245 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.9% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.3% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.2% | 91.8% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 29.4°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 84 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 4, 2020 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 18, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 10, 2014.
Severe weather in Franklin city since 1996
Franklin city has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| October 15, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4401: Hurricane Florence |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
Jobs and pay in Franklin city
Franklin city had 3,982 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,607 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Franklin
4 public schools with 1,015 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.P. Morton Elementary | PK-5 | 485 | 13.5 |
| Franklin High | 8-12 | 375 | 11.7 |
| Joseph P. King Jr. Middle | 6-7 | 155 | 12.9 |
| Fresh Start Center | Other | — | — |
Towns near Franklin
- Windsor, VA14.3 mi · 2,746 people · home $280,800
- Suffolk, VA17.0 mi · 94,324 people · home $347,400
- Murfreesboro, NC18.8 mi · 2,619 people · home $158,600
- Smithfield, VA26.9 mi · 8,533 people · home $374,900
- Ahoskie, NC27.8 mi · 4,891 people · home $143,200
- Carrollton, VA29.2 mi · 7,498 people · home $423,900
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 34% of Virginia towns and quieter than 44%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $256,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,245, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $988 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 29.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 4.4 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 4, 2020. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)