The Town FilesFranklin, Pennsylvania
Township in Erie County · population 1,508 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $277,700
- Household income
- $101,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 104 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 45.6
Franklin is a township of 1,508 people in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $277,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, quieter than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, better for families than 85% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Franklin ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Franklin is worth $277,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $101,750, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $860 a month. 96.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Franklin | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $860 | $996 |
| Median household income | $101,750 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Franklin
| People | Franklin | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Franklin
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 21.3°F. About 43.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 103.6 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 31, 1985 about 3.4 miles from the town center and killed 12. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 98 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 28, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 17, 2014.
Severe weather in Erie County since 1996
Erie County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1555: Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances |
Jobs and pay in Erie County
Erie County had 119,552 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,524 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Franklin itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Franklin
- Elk Creek, PA4.8 mi · 1,786 people · home $230,500
- Washington, PA5.8 mi · 4,393 people · home $284,600
- Edinboro, PA5.9 mi · 4,964 people · home $222,700
- Cranesville, PA6.5 mi · 570 people · home $133,300
- McKean, PA6.5 mi · 4,437 people · home $241,600
- Girard, PA6.8 mi · 4,869 people · home $204,600
- Fairview, PA6.9 mi · 11,138 people · home $295,200
- Fairview, PA7.1 mi · 2,850 people · home $209,600
Franklin questions
Is Franklin, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Franklin scores better for retirees than 53% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 90%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Franklin?
The median owner-occupied home in Franklin is valued at $277,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,750, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $860 a month.
What is the weather like in Franklin?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 21.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.0 inches of precipitation a year and 103.6 inches of snow.
Does Franklin get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Franklin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 31, 1985. The typical Pennsylvania 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)