The Town FilesFranklin, Michigan
Township in Lenawee County · population 3,063 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $293,900
- Household income
- $90,221
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 46.9
Franklin is a township of 3,063 people in Lenawee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $293,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 97% of Michigan towns, better for families than 82% 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 $293,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $90,221, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $739 a month. 92.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $293,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $739 | $955 |
| Median household income | $90,221 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.8% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 38.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 13.3°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 20 deaths and 95 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2010.
Severe weather in Lenawee County since 1996
Lenawee County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137: Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Lenawee County
Lenawee County had 25,796 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,357 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Towns near Franklin
- Cambridge, MI5.5 mi · 5,722 people · home $275,700
- Adrian, MI5.7 mi · 6,401 people · home $230,700
- Clinton, MI6.1 mi · 2,517 people · home $186,700
- Manchester, MI6.3 mi · 4,626 people · home $273,600
- Clinton, MI6.8 mi · 3,765 people · home $199,100
- Tecumseh, MI6.9 mi · 8,680 people · home $216,700
- Norvell, MI8.1 mi · 2,800 people · home $278,600
- Raisin, MI8.9 mi · 7,900 people · home $241,400
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 66% of Michigan towns and quieter than 46%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.9).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $293,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,221, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $739 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 13.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 26.0 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)