The Town FilesFranklin, Michigan
Township in Clare County · population 730 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,200
- Household income
- $52,778
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 55.8
Franklin is a township of 730 people in Clare County, Michigan. The median home is worth $157,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Michigan towns, quieter than 93% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 71% of Michigan towns.
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $157,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $52,778, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. 98.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $52,778 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 98.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 59.1% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 13.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 39.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 21, 1975 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 26, 1998.
Severe weather in Clare County since 1996
Clare County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
| September 18, 1986 | Flood | DR-774: Severe Storms & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clare County
Clare County had 7,261 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,949 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 33.5%.
Towns near Franklin
- Sherman, MI6.0 mi · 1,001 people · home $182,200
- Hamilton, MI6.0 mi · 1,785 people · home $110,500
- Frost, MI6.3 mi · 1,038 people · home $148,100
- Hayes, MI8.0 mi · 4,642 people · home $93,700
- Sage, MI8.0 mi · 2,431 people · home $163,800
- Roscommon, MI8.6 mi · 4,397 people · home $137,700
- Harrison, MI10.7 mi · 2,150 people · home $135,100
- Denton, MI11.2 mi · 5,293 people · home $163,200
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 49% of Michigan towns and quieter than 93%. 33.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.8).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $157,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,778, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 62.5 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 21, 1975. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)