Places › Tennessee › Franklin

Living in Franklin, TN

Suburb in Tennessee

Franklin is a suburb in Tennessee, home to about 86,000 people, with 1.4 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, a car is essential. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Franklin a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 8 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Low taxes: no state income tax, 0.45% property tax
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.4× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Highly educated: 64% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3 research universities are within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $704k, and rent is $2,210 a month
  • Cloudier than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Franklin ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
86,000
1.4 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
52°F / 89°F
Average daily highs · 2″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$704k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,210/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
96
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 0.45% property tax
Safety
0.4× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
5 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, earthquakes
Top-rated hospitals
8
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
64%
3 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
BNA
17 mi away

Living in Franklin: common questions

What is the cost of living in Franklin?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $704k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,210 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 96, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Franklin?

Tennessee has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.45% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Franklin safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.4× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Franklin?

Franklin has cool winters: winter days average around 52°F and summer days around 89°F.

Does Franklin get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, earthquakes and cold waves: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.87 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Franklin?

The nearest major airport is BNA, about 17 mi away.

How Franklin scores

Each bar compares Franklin with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Car essential Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Strong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Below average
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Excellent
🧸Kids & family Good
🐕Dog-friendly Good
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Very safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Average
✈️Airport Good

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Is Franklin right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.