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Buying a home in Franklin County, Kentucky

The typical owner-occupied home in Franklin County is worth about $216,600, 5% above the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 35% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,716 a year in property taxes, about 0.79% of their home's value, higher than the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $65,298 a year, so the median home costs 3.3 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 64% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Franklin County at a glance

Franklin County Kentucky U.S.
Median home value $216,600 $205,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,716 $1,544 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.79% 0.75% 0.94%
Median household income $65,298 $63,726 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 64% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 61% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,425 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.1% 18.8% 21.0%
Median rent $967 $967 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.3% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1977 1982 1980
Vacant homes 6.0% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 51,842 4,534,824 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Franklin County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Franklin County home of $216,600 with 20% down costs about $1,399 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,759, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $59,937 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Franklin County household income of $65,298; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $236,000.

The median rent here is $967 a month, so owning the median home costs about $432 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$43,320
Loan amount$173,280
Principal and interest$1,166
Property taxes (0.79% a year)$143
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$90
PMI$0
Total per month$1,399

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$7,581
Loan amount$212,677
Principal and interest$1,431
Property taxes (0.79% a year)$143
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$90
FHA mortgage insurance$96
Total per month$1,759

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Questions about home buying in Franklin County

What is the median home value in Franklin County?

About $216,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Franklin County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,716 a year, which is about 0.79% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Franklin County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,399 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $59,937 a year.

More about Franklin County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data