1st Advantage MortgageFranklin County (17,326 residents) has a $55,886 median household income and $719 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Franklin County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- 17,326 residents: Franklin County basics
- Where Franklin County works
- Rent, home values and ownership in Franklin County
- How Franklin County ranks in Arkansas
- Paychecks and income spread in Franklin County
- Towns and communities in Franklin County
- Franklin County next to its neighbors
- Reading the Franklin County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Franklin County
- Franklin County households compared
- Arkansas rules that apply in Franklin County
- A Franklin County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
17,326 residents: Franklin County basics
Roughly 17,326 residents live in Franklin County, Arkansas, 41st by population among the state's 75 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 609 square miles, that works out to roughly 28.5 residents per square mile. Franklin County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Of the 7 Census places inside Franklin County, Ozark leads by population with about 3,551; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
Where Franklin County works
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 19%. Compared with Arkansas, the county leans toward manufacturing (19% against 13%). Unemployment in Franklin County, ACS five-year: 4.9%; Arkansas: 4.9%. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 12%; under 15 minutes: 38%. Households without a car make up 7.2% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Franklin County | Gap to Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.4% | +6.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -3.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.3% | +3.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Rent, home values and ownership in Franklin County
Franklin County rent at the median: $719 a month, utilities in ($947 in Arkansas). 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. With a median value of $130,800, a typical Franklin County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. Median construction year: 1985.
| Home costs | Franklin County | Arkansas | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 78% | 66% | +11.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 22% | +3.6 pts |
| Median home value | $130,800 | $188,000 | 30% lower |
| Mobile homes | 13.4% | 11.0% | +2.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $719/mo | $947/mo | 24% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 45% | 0.0 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
How Franklin County ranks in Arkansas
Out of every Arkansas county, Franklin County is most unusual on these measures.
- Franklin County ranks 7th lowest of 75 Arkansas counties for the share of workers who work from home: 2.8%, against 8.8% statewide. Most workers travel to a job here, so commuting costs are part of the budget.
- On the housing vacancy rate, Franklin County sits near the bottom of Arkansas at 9%, 9th lowest of 75. Low vacancy tends to push rents up over time.
Paychecks and income spread in Franklin County
Half of Franklin County households take in less than $55,886 a year and half take in more, 8% below the Arkansas median of $60,773.
| Band | Franklin County | Compared with Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.7% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.9% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -2.8 pts |
35% under $35,000 and 22% at $100,000 or more: that is the Franklin County income split. Census counts 18.0% of Franklin County residents in poverty, against 16.0% across Arkansas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.471 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Towns and communities in Franklin County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 44% of Franklin County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $56,600 at the median in Charleston, $47,500 in Altus. Median rent ranges from $592 in Altus to $764 in Charleston. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark | city | 3,551 | $47,686 | $721 | 2 mi |
| Charleston | city | 2,646 | $56,600 | $764 | 17 mi |
| Altus | city | 827 | $47,500 | $592 | 8 mi |
| Branch | city | 317 | $37,500 | $725 | 14 mi |
| Denning | town | 245 | $35,938 | $742 | 9 mi |
| Alix | CDP | 20 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Wiederkehr Village | city | 18 | $99,375 | n/a | 7 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Franklin County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 37 miles). Franklin County's $55,886 median trails 5 of the six and beats 1; the range runs $45,995 (Johnson County) to $70,639 (Washington County).
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | - | $55,886 | $719/mo | 78% |
| Crawford County, AR | 20 mi | $64,132 | $851/mo | 75% |
| Logan County, AR | 22 mi | $58,555 | $745/mo | 78% |
| Johnson County, AR | 24 mi | $45,995 | $728/mo | 74% |
| Sebastian County, AR | 31 mi | $57,790 | $886/mo | 61% |
| Madison County, AR | 36 mi | $56,798 | $729/mo | 80% |
| Washington County, AR | 37 mi | $70,639 | $1,071/mo | 56% |
Reading the Franklin County data as a borrower
Where the Franklin County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Manufactured housing (13%). Franklin County owners should get two written repair quotes before borrowing.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Room for a loan payment in Franklin County
How much room does a median Franklin County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,657 before taxes
- 15% goes to median rent ($719)
- $1,284: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Franklin County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Franklin County households compared
15% of Franklin County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Uninsured, Franklin County: 9.4%; Arkansas: 9.0%.
| Measure | Franklin County | Gap to Arkansas | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.5% | -11.2 pts | -7.6 pts |
| Work from home | 2.8% | -6.0 pts | -5.9 pts |
| Median age | 42.3 | +3.8 yrs | +0.8 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | +2.0 pts | +4.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | +1.4 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | +1.4 pts | +1.8 pts |
| No health insurance | 9.4% | +0.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | -0.1 pts | +0.5 pts |
| Commute length | Franklin County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Arkansas rules that apply in Franklin County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Franklin County borrowers answers to the Arkansas State Bank Department. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. State-level detail for Franklin County borrowers is in the Arkansas guide.
A Franklin County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Franklin County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Arkansas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Franklin County a high-income county?
Its $55,886 median ranks 19th of 75 Arkansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Franklin County rent compare with Arkansas?
$719 locally versus $947 for the state, 24% below.
Does this page cover Ozark?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Franklin County, such as Charleston, Altus, Branch.
Will a Franklin County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Arkansas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Franklin County check a lender's license?
With the Arkansas State Bank Department. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.