1st Advantage MortgageThe median Franklin County household earns $78,074, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Franklin County at a glance
- Income in Franklin County compared with Indiana
- Franklin County housing compared with Indiana
- Employment and commuting in Franklin County
- Places inside Franklin County
- Franklin County and the counties next door
- More Franklin County figures
- Before borrowing in Franklin County
- Room for a loan payment in Franklin County
- Indiana rules that apply in Franklin County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Franklin County at a glance
Franklin County is home to about 23,020 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 67th most populous of 92 county-level areas in Indiana. Packed into 384 square miles, that is close to 60 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Franklin County, Batesville leads by population with about 7,282; 6 of the 8 are incorporated.
Income in Franklin County compared with Indiana
At $78,074, the typical Franklin County household income is 19% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Franklin County | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.1% | -4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.1% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.0% | +1.8 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. Census counts 6.9% of Franklin County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.417 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Franklin County median.
Franklin County housing compared with Indiana
Renters in Franklin County pay a median of $870 a month, 18% below the Indiana figure of $1,062. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. With a median value of $249,500, a typical Franklin County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 82% of homes.
| Measure | Franklin County | Indiana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $870/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $249,500 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Franklin County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Employment and commuting in Franklin County
The biggest employer of Franklin County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (21%). Construction stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Franklin County. Long commutes are common here: 35% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Franklin County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.5% | +3.5 pts |
| Construction | 11.5% | +5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Franklin County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Franklin County residents live in one of the 8. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $55,938 in Brookville to $79,583 in Oldenburg. Median rent ranges from $681 in Oldenburg to $847 in Batesville. Live in one of these Franklin County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batesville | city | 7,282 | $62,292 | $847 | 11 mi |
| Brookville | town | 2,643 | $55,938 | $818 | 3 mi |
| Oldenburg | town | 770 | $79,583 | $681 | 9 mi |
| Metamora | CDP | 491 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Laurel | town | 444 | $27,692 | $956 | 9 mi |
| New Trenton | CDP | 290 | $36,818 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Cedar Grove | town | 252 | $65,938 | $713 | 8 mi |
| Mount Carmel | town | 60 | $63,500 | $820 | 10 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Franklin County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 17 to 26 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Franklin County; Dearborn County is highest at $84,735 and Fayette County lowest at $59,321.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | - | $78,074 | $870/mo | 82% |
| Union County, IN | 17 mi | $76,424 | $760/mo | 80% |
| Fayette County, IN | 17 mi | $59,321 | $791/mo | 72% |
| Dearborn County, IN | 19 mi | $84,735 | $845/mo | 85% |
| Ripley County, IN | 24 mi | $70,573 | $839/mo | 77% |
| Decatur County, IN | 24 mi | $69,783 | $861/mo | 76% |
| Rush County, IN | 26 mi | $66,473 | $873/mo | 75% |
More Franklin County figures
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.7%, against 7.4% for Indiana.
| Indicator | Franklin County | All of Indiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.5% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.6% |
| 60+ min | 18.6% |
Before borrowing in Franklin County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Franklin County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 35% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 12% of Franklin County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Room for a loan payment in Franklin County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Franklin County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,506 gross per month ($78,074 / 12)
- Less median rent of $870, which is 13% of it
- $1,928: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Indiana rules that apply in Franklin County
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Indiana license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Indiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Franklin County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Indiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Franklin County a high-income county?
Its $78,074 median ranks 18th of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Franklin County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $870 against $1,062 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Franklin County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Batesville?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Franklin County, such as Brookville, Oldenburg, Metamora.
Are Franklin County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.