The Town FilesFranklin, Alabama
Town in Macon County · population 590 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,900
- Household income
- $85,817
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 51.9
Franklin is a town of 590 people in Macon County, Alabama. The median home is worth $77,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Alabama towns, quieter than 89% of Alabama towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
- #1 in The 25 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Alabama
- #2 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Alabama
- #6 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Alabama
- #9 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #9 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $77,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 0.9 times the median household income of $85,817, which is more affordable than 100% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $746 a month. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $746 | $834 |
| Median household income | $85,817 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 13.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.9% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 16.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 34.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 86.7% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 33.8°F. About 54.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 27, 2023 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 11, 1962.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| May 5, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4710: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Macon County
Macon County had 4,827 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,933 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 18.1%.
Towns near Franklin
- Tuskegee, AL6.4 mi · 9,395 people · home $104,800
- Tallassee, AL8.3 mi · 4,763 people · home $144,600
- Reeltown, AL8.6 mi · 794 people · home $114,200
- Notasulga, AL9.8 mi · 914 people · home $137,500
- Emerald Mountain, AL18.0 mi · 3,310 people · home $321,300
- Eclectic, AL19.7 mi · 1,193 people · home $161,800
- Auburn, AL20.2 mi · 76,143 people · home $364,800
- Redland, AL21.0 mi · 5,106 people · home $317,100
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 99% of Alabama towns and quieter than 89%. 35.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.9).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $77,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,817, so homes cost about 0.9 times income. Median rent is $746 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 33.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 27, 2023. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- 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)