The Town FilesFranklinton, North Carolina
Town in Franklin County · population 2,456 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,100
- Household income
- $59,464
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 38.4
Franklinton is a town of 2,456 people in Franklin County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $249,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Franklinton ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklinton is worth $249,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $59,464, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $963 a month. 62.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklinton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $963 | $969 |
| Median household income | $59,464 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Franklinton
| People | Franklinton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 19.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 33.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Franklinton
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 27.5°F. About 48.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklinton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 28, 1988 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 133 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 1, 1990.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 13,747 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,174 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Franklinton itself the ACS puts it at 9.6%.
Public schools in Franklinton
5 public schools with 2,581 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklinton High | 9-12 | 1,218 | 18.7 |
| Franklinton Elementary | PK-5 | 485 | 14.3 |
| Tar River Elementary | PK-5 | 358 | 14.3 |
| Wilton Elementary | PK-5 | 293 | 15.4 |
| Franklinton Middle | 6-8 | 227 | 11.9 |
Towns near Franklinton
- Youngsville, NC4.8 mi · 2,016 people · home $434,100
- Louisburg, NC8.5 mi · 3,064 people · home $262,500
- Wake Forest, NC10.0 mi · 47,601 people · home $474,500
- Creedmoor, NC12.7 mi · 4,866 people · home $281,400
- Rolesville, NC12.8 mi · 9,475 people · home $535,000
- South Henderson, NC14.2 mi · 988 people · home —
- Henderson, NC15.7 mi · 15,060 people · home $123,800
- Butner, NC16.2 mi · 8,397 people · home $231,100
Franklinton questions
Is Franklinton, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklinton scores better for retirees than 16% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 42%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Franklinton?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklinton is valued at $249,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,464, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $963 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklinton?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 27.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does Franklinton get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklinton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 28, 1988. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)