CountyScore

Franklin County

Tennessee · TN

#56 in Tennessee
69.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Franklin County, Tennessee

Franklin Outperforms National Average by 51%

Franklin County's composite score of 75.5 is 51% higher than the national median of 50.0, placing it solidly in the upper tier of U.S. counties. The score reflects a balanced livability profile anchored by reasonable taxes and housing costs.

Slightly Below Tennessee Median

Franklin County scores 75.5, just below Tennessee's 76.3 state average, positioning it near the middle of the state's performance range. Despite this modest gap, it remains well-above-average nationally and competitive with its regional peers.

Strong Tax and Income Profile

Franklin County demonstrates solid tax efficiency with an 86.4 score (0.565% effective rate) and a respectable income score of 23.6, with median household income reaching $61,553. Housing remains reasonably priced with a cost score of 80.3 and median home value of $215,700.

Limited Data on Health and Safety

Critical information on safety, health outcomes, schools, and water quality is not yet available, leaving a partial picture of overall livability. Prospective residents should seek local information on these dimensions before deciding.

Good Fit for Moderate-Income Families

Franklin County appeals to families and professionals seeking a balance of affordability, reasonable tax rates, and moderate income potential. The county offers a stable living environment and good value, though health and safety data would strengthen the assessment.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax86.4Cost80.3SafetyComing SoonHealth63.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome23.6Risk42.5WaterComing Soon
🏛86.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠80.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼23.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤63.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡42.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Franklin County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Lake and Peninsula Borough
Alaska
69.7
Median income: $64,000
Chicot County
Arkansas
69.7
Median income: $39,683
Elbert County
Colorado
69.7
Median income: $129,477
Park County
Colorado
69.7
Median income: $95,450
Franklin County
Georgia
69.7
Median income: $52,264

Deep Dives

Franklin County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Franklin County

via TaxByCounty

Franklin taxes slightly above Tennessee average

Franklin County's effective tax rate of 0.565% exceeds Tennessee's state average of 0.511% but remains below the national median of 0.76%. The median annual property tax is $1,218, still less than half the national median of $2,690.

Franklin ranks in state's upper half

With an effective rate of 0.565%, Franklin County sits in Tennessee's top 30% for tax burden among the state's 95 counties. At $1,218 in median annual taxes, Franklin households pay about $200 more than the state median.

Franklin's rates exceed most regional peers

Franklin County's 0.565% effective rate surpasses all comparison counties except Gibson County (0.679%). Only households in Gibson face higher tax rates in this eight-county region.

What your Franklin home costs in taxes

On the county median home value of $215,700, the annual property tax bill totals approximately $1,218. Whether you have a mortgage or own your home outright, your estimated annual tax is roughly $1,220.

Appeal your assessment if overvalued

Many Franklin County homeowners pay taxes on inflated assessed values that don't match current market conditions. Filing a property tax appeal every two years is a straightforward way to potentially lower your bill and ensure fairness.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Franklin County

via CostByCounty

Franklin County Slightly Below National Affordability

Franklin County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.8% is competitive nationally, though renters here spend a larger share of income on housing than the national average. With a median household income of $61,553, the $863 monthly rent represents a manageable but noticeable household expense.

Middle of the Tennessee Pack

Franklin County's 16.8% rent-to-income ratio places it slightly better than Tennessee's 17.6% state average, showing moderate affordability within the state context. Renters pay just $3 more monthly than the state median, putting Franklin County in the sweet middle for Tennessee housing costs.

Pricier Than Rural Peers, But Stable

Franklin County's $863 median rent exceeds nearby Giles County ($836) and Gibson County ($797), reflecting its more developed character as a county seat. However, it undercuts higher-cost areas while offering better services and amenities than more remote counties.

Franklin County Housing Cost Snapshot

Renters allocate 16.8% of Franklin County's $61,553 median income to housing, while homeowners spend 16.1% on monthly costs of $827. This balanced burden means housing takes a meaningful but not overwhelming share of household budgets.

Franklin County Offers Balanced Living

If you want a mid-sized Tennessee county with reasonable housing costs and moderate services, Franklin County's $863 rent and $215,700 median home values represent fair-market pricing. Compare it against pricier urban counties and lower-cost rural areas to find your affordability sweet spot.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Franklin County

via IncomeByCounty

Franklin County earns above state average

Franklin County's median household income of $61,553 exceeds Tennessee's state average of $58,994, yet still falls $13,202 below the national median of $74,755. The county ranks in the middle nationally, performing better than many rural peers but lagging wealthier urban and suburban regions.

Solid performer within Tennessee

At $61,553, Franklin County ranks above average for Tennessee counties, sitting firmly in the middle of the state's income distribution. This positions the county as moderately prosperous within its state context, driven by a mix of agriculture, small business, and light manufacturing.

Competitive with peer counties

Franklin County's $61,553 income matches Giles County ($61,476) almost exactly, placing both among the region's top earners. Both significantly outpace Fentress County ($50,865) and Grundy County ($45,573), reflecting Franklin's economic strength.

Housing costs rise with prosperity

Franklin County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.8% is slightly elevated, reflecting higher home values averaging $215,700. While housing consumes a larger share of income here than in lower-cost counties, it remains within sustainable ranges for median households.

Leverage higher income for investing

Franklin County's above-average income provides a real opportunity to invest beyond housing equity. Building a diversified portfolio through retirement accounts and long-term investments can accelerate wealth accumulation for households earning above the state average.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Franklin County

via HealthByCounty

Franklin exceeds national health benchmarks

Franklin County residents enjoy a life expectancy of 73.8 years, just 2.2 years below the U.S. average of 76 years, reflecting stronger-than-average health outcomes. The county's poor or fair health rate of 22.5% is notably better than the national average, indicating a healthier population overall.

A top performer within Tennessee

Franklin County surpasses Tennessee's average life expectancy of 72.4 years by 1.4 years, placing it among the state's healthier counties. At 10.3%, its uninsured rate also beats the state average of 11.9%.

Leading the region in health metrics

Franklin County's 73.8-year life expectancy exceeds all nearby counties, including Giles (71.6 years) and Gibson (70.3 years). With 56 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, Franklin also boasts stronger provider access than its regional neighbors.

Good access pairs with low uninsured rates

Only 10.3% of Franklin County residents lack insurance—among the lowest in the region—while 56 primary care providers and 63 mental health providers per 100,000 ensure robust care availability. This combination of coverage and access supports the county's relatively strong health outcomes.

Keep your family covered

With 90% of Franklin County already insured, maintaining coverage is key to sustaining the county's health gains. Review your current plan annually at healthcare.gov to ensure it meets your family's evolving needs.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Franklin County

via RiskByCounty

Franklin County's risk sits near national average

Franklin County's composite risk score of 57.51 places it in the Relatively Low category, slightly above the national average for many counties. The county faces meaningful exposure to tornadoes and earthquakes despite lower wildfire risk than Tennessee's western regions.

Middle-of-pack risk for Tennessee

Franklin County's 57.51 score ranks it above the state average of 52.45, positioning it as a moderate-risk county within Tennessee. Its tornado risk (77.39) and earthquake risk (80.79) pull the overall score upward, while wildfire risk remains comparatively low at 17.27.

More at-risk than Giles, safer than Gibson

Franklin County's risk profile falls between its neighbors: slightly lower than Giles County (60.94) but considerably lower than Gibson County (85.94) to the northwest. Its composite score of 57.51 makes it representative of South-Central Tennessee's moderate hazard exposure.

Tornadoes and earthquakes are primary concerns

Tornado risk dominates at 77.39, reflecting Franklin County's location in Tennessee's tornado corridor where spring and early summer storms frequently develop. Earthquake risk (80.79) ranks nearly as high, tied to proximity to the Cumberland Plateau fault system and seismic activity in the region.

Prioritize tornado and earthquake coverage

Homeowners should ensure policies include tornado and hail damage protection, and consider a safe room or reinforced shelter for severe weather events. Earthquake coverage is often an optional add-on; review your policy to confirm whether structural damage from seismic activity is protected.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.