Franklin, VA

Census place 5129600 · pop 8,250

D−43/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in VA
📍 Virginia ranks #14 of 50 states →
🏆 Disaster18/100 · top 2%
🚽 Obesity44.3% · bottom 5%
Taxes
0.71% property · US 0.99%5.77% sales · US 7.00%up to 5.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Adult obesity44.3%5

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

44.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Physical inactivity34.1%12

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

34.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult smoking17.3%17

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

17.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poverty rate19.3%19

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

19.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership53.9%22

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

53.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health18.2%33

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Median household income$63,24534

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$63,245 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.0%36

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+1.3%38

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+1.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Uninsured adults10.9%38

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

10.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Bachelor's degree or higher27.3%43

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

27.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Commute time23 min54

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Broadband access92.2%55

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

92.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Housing cost$256,60055

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$256,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Income inequality0.4357

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Property-tax burden0.71%72

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.71% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level18/10098

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

18/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Franklin: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Franklin, VA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Franklin scores 43/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 17 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is adult obesity. Virginia overall ranks #14 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Franklin, VA expensive to live in?
Franklin has a median home value of $256,600 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Franklin, VA?
Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (44.3%) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Franklin, VA best at?
Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (18/100) — 98/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.