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Living in Franklin, WI

Suburb in Wisconsin

Franklin is a suburb in Wisconsin, home to about 36,000 people, with 1.8 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: 11 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.2× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Mild summers: highs around 81°F
  • Strong public schools: test results well above the US average

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $1,734 state income tax per resident, 1.85% property tax
  • 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
36,000
1.8 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
33°F / 81°F
Average daily highs · 49″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$445k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,650/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
97
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,734
State income tax per resident · 1.85% property tax
Safety
0.2× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
8 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly cold waves, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
11
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Public schools
Excellent
Tests well above US average · 21 students per teacher
Adults with a degree
45%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MKE
7 mi away

Living in Franklin: common questions

What is the cost of living in Franklin?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $445k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,650 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 97, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Franklin?

Wisconsin collects about $1,734 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.85% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Franklin safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.2× in FBI 2019 data).

How are the schools in Franklin?

Public schools in Franklin test well above the US average in math and reading (2018–19 state tests, put on one national scale with NAEP), with about 21 students per teacher.

What is the weather like in Franklin?

Franklin has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 33°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 49″ of snow a year.

Does Franklin get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from cold waves, flooding and tornadoes: 8 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.8 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Franklin?

The nearest major airport is MKE, about 7 mi away.

How Franklin scores

Each bar compares Franklin with the other 1,990 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 sizeMid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quietSuburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting aroundCar essential Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or natureCulture & nature Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️ClimateLong, snowy winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of livingAverage cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️PaceRelaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝CommunityTight-knit community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡HousingApartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housingGood
💸Low taxesBelow average
💼Job marketGood
🏥HealthcareExcellent
🏫SchoolsExcellent
🎓EducationGood
🧸Kids & familyAverage
🐕Dog-friendlyAverage
⛰️OutdoorsGood
🎭CultureAverage
👮SafetyVery safe
🌪️Few natural disastersGood
☀️SunnyBelow average
🌤️Mild summersExcellent
✈️AirportGood

Places like Franklin

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 24 aspects.

The circle is each place's all-round score out of 100: the average of its 15 quality scores, from red (poor) to green (excellent).

New Berlin, WISuburb67 $443k$1,650/moVery safe Menomonee Falls, WISuburb70 $405k$1,650/moVery safe Cumberland, RISuburb70 $517k$2,090/moVery safe Brookfield, WISuburb65 $466k$1,650/moVery safe Shelton, CTSuburb63 $551k$2,210/moVery safe Southington, CTSmall city61 $442k$2,240/moVery safe

Nearby

Greenfield, WISuburb · 5 mi away57 $340k$1,650/moVery safe Oak Creek, WISuburb · 6 mi away66 $420k$1,650/moVery safe New Berlin, WISuburb · 8 mi away67 $443k$1,650/moVery safe West Allis, WISuburb · 9 mi away57 $276k$1,650/moSafe Wauwatosa, WISuburb · 12 mi away63 $405k$1,650/moVery safe Milwaukee, WIBig city · 13 mi away49 $232k$1,650/moHigher crime

See all the best places to live in Wisconsin.

Is Franklin right for you?

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

Take the free quiz →

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.