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Buying a home in Franklin County, Massachusetts

The typical owner-occupied home in Franklin County is worth about $329,000, 41% below the Massachusetts median of $562,100 and about the same as the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,720 a year in property taxes, about 1.43% of their home's value, higher than the Massachusetts rate of 1.07%. The median household earns $74,907 a year, so the median home costs 4.4 times the median income (5.4 times for Massachusetts). 70% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 59% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Franklin County at a glance

Franklin County Massachusetts U.S.
Median home value $329,000 $562,100 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $4,720 $5,992 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.43% 1.07% 0.94%
Median household income $74,907 $103,960 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 70% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 59% 66% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,909 $2,726 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 22.9% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,177 $1,762 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 34.2% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1962 1964 1980
Vacant homes 8.6% 8.1% 10.1%
Population 70,944 7,044,056 334,922,499

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 $329,000 with 20% down costs about $2,300 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,848, 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 $98,559 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 37% of the median Franklin County household income of $74,907; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $250,000.

The median rent here is $1,177 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,123 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$65,800
Loan amount$263,200
Principal and interest$1,771
Property taxes (1.43% a year)$392
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$137
PMI$0
Total per month$2,300

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$11,515
Loan amount$323,041
Principal and interest$2,173
Property taxes (1.43% a year)$392
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$137
FHA mortgage insurance$146
Total per month$2,848

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Questions about home buying in Franklin County

What is the median home value in Franklin County?

About $329,000 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 $4,720 a year, which is about 1.43% 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 $2,300 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $98,559 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