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Buying a home in Franklin, North Carolina

The typical owner-occupied home in Franklin is worth about $195,000, 33% below the North Carolina median of $288,900 and 41% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,227 a year in property taxes, about 0.63% of their home's value, close to the North Carolina rate of 0.66%. The median household earns $47,888 a year, so the median home costs 4.1 times the median income (4.0 times for North Carolina). 58% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 48% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Franklin at a glance

Franklin North Carolina U.S.
Median home value $195,000 $288,900 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,227 $1,896 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.63% 0.66% 0.94%
Median household income $47,888 $72,388 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 58% 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 48% 61% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,210 $1,631 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.2% 19.4% 21.0%
Median rent $725 $1,228 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 24.4% 29.5% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1981 1991 1980
Vacant homes 9.6% 12.5% 10.1%
Population 4,268 10,730,404 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Franklin

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Franklin home of $195,000 with 20% down costs about $1,233 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,558, 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 $52,845 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Franklin household income of $47,888; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $177,000.

The median rent here is $725 a month, so owning the median home costs about $508 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$39,000
Loan amount$156,000
Principal and interest$1,049
Property taxes (0.63% a year)$102
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$81
PMI$0
Total per month$1,233

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,825
Loan amount$191,468
Principal and interest$1,288
Property taxes (0.63% a year)$102
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$81
FHA mortgage insurance$86
Total per month$1,558

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Questions about home buying in Franklin

What is the median home value in Franklin?

About $195,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Franklin?

Homeowners pay a median $1,227 a year, which is about 0.63% 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?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,233 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $52,845 a year.

More about Franklin

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