The Town FilesFranklin, Wisconsin
City in Milwaukee County · population 36,816 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $364,200
- Household income
- $106,894
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 43.0
Franklin is a city of 36,816 people in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $364,200, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more upscale than 95% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 94% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Wisconsin towns.
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $364,200, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $106,894, which is more affordable than 37% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,458 a month. 77.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $364,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,458 | $951 |
| Median household income | $106,894 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 77.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.6% | — |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 89.1% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 5, 1977 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 95 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Milwaukee County since 1996
Milwaukee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Flood | DR-4892: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| March 11, 2020 | Flood | DR-4477: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Milwaukee County
Milwaukee County had 469,055 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,142 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Franklin
8 public schools with 4,721 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin High | 9-12 | 1,606 | 16.6 |
| Forest Park Middle | 6-8 | 1,074 | 14.5 |
| Robinwood Elementary | PK-5 | 455 | 15.2 |
| Country Dale Elementary | PK-5 | 443 | 14.8 |
| Pleasant View Elementary | PK-5 | 418 | 15.5 |
| Southwood Glen Elementary | PK-5 | 395 | 15.8 |
| Ben Franklin Elementary | PK-5 | 315 | 14.3 |
| Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center | 9-12 | 15 | 7.5 |
Towns near Franklin
- Greendale, WI3.9 mi · 14,854 people · home $314,200
- Hales Corners, WI4.4 mi · 7,720 people · home $309,800
- Greenfield, WI5.3 mi · 37,803 people · home $261,100
- Oak Creek, WI5.7 mi · 36,497 people · home $331,700
- Raymond, WI5.9 mi · 3,926 people · home $389,700
- Muskego, WI6.3 mi · 25,032 people · home $417,400
- South Milwaukee, WI7.8 mi · 20,795 people · home $235,700
- Wind Lake, WI8.2 mi · 5,355 people · home $386,100
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 56% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 12%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $364,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $106,894, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,458 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 48.7 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 5, 1977. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)