The Town FilesFranklin, Kentucky
City in Simpson County · population 10,176 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $195,400
- Household income
- $59,052
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 35.8
Franklin is a city of 10,176 people in Simpson County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $195,400, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450).
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $195,400, above the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $59,052, which is more affordable than 37% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $1,010 a month. 55.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $195,400 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $1,010 | $837 |
| Median household income | $59,052 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 55.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 88.6% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.6°F. About 54.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.3 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 3, 1974 about 1.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 10, 2013.
Severe weather in Simpson County since 1996
Simpson County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Simpson County
Simpson County had 9,115 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,092 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Franklin
6 public schools with 3,048 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin-Simpson High School | 9-12 | 858 | 15.1 |
| Simpson Elementary School | 1-3 | 710 | 16.9 |
| Franklin-Simpson Middle School | 6-8 | 627 | 17.9 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | 4-5 | 466 | 14.1 |
| Franklin Elementary School | PK-K | 323 | 16.2 |
| Franklin-Simpson High School West Campus | 6-12 | 64 | 12.8 |
Towns near Franklin
- Portland, TN8.5 mi · 13,156 people · home $282,200
- White House, TN18.5 mi · 12,982 people · home $344,800
- Bowling Green, KY19.1 mi · 72,294 people · home $241,900
- Scottsville, KY19.5 mi · 4,299 people · home $160,700
- Westmoreland, TN20.3 mi · 2,718 people · home $241,700
- Russellville, KY20.5 mi · 7,164 people · home $168,700
- Springfield, TN23.3 mi · 18,782 people · home $253,600
- Shackle Island, TN23.8 mi · 3,331 people · home $540,400
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 17% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 35%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $195,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,052, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,010 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 26.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.3 inches of precipitation a year and 4.3 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 3, 1974. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- 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)