1st Advantage MortgageThe median Franklin County household earns $77,207, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Franklin County
- What Franklin County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Franklin County
- What it costs to live in Franklin County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Franklin County
- Regional comparison for Franklin County
- Franklin County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Franklin County
- Debt-to-income at Franklin County's medians
- A Franklin County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Franklin County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Franklin County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Franklin County's population at 26,106; only 22 of Kansas's 105 county-level areas are larger. It covers 572 square miles of land, or about 46 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Franklin County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 9 Census places inside Franklin County, Ottawa leads by population with about 12,678; 8 of the 9 are incorporated.
What Franklin County households earn
Half of Franklin County households take in less than $77,207 a year and half take in more, 4% above the Kansas median of $74,275.
| Income band | Share in Franklin County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.2% | -0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.6% | +6.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -6.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Franklin County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 8.7%, 3 points lower than the state's 11.3%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.376 here. 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.
Employment and commuting in Franklin County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Franklin County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 12% locally and 6% for Kansas. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 76% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Franklin County | Gap to Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.9% | +6.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | -2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Franklin County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Franklin County
Renters in Franklin County pay a median of $1,042 a month, 2% below the Kansas figure of $1,060. By the Census definition, 42% of Franklin County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $198,700, a typical Franklin County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 72% of Franklin County households own their home and 28% rent.
| Measure | Franklin County | Kansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,042/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $198,700 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
Because most Franklin County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Franklin County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 67% of Franklin County residents live in one of the 9. Incomes vary by place: $83,750 at the median in Wellsville, $51,875 in Pomona. Median rent ranges from $821 in Pomona to $1,247 in Wellsville. This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | city | 12,678 | $71,699 | $1,032 | 3 mi |
| Wellsville | city | 2,216 | $83,750 | $1,247 | 15 mi |
| Pomona | city | 1,088 | $51,875 | $821 | 10 mi |
| Richmond | city | 503 | $56,078 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Williamsburg | city | 372 | $73,125 | $1,125 | 11 mi |
| Princeton | city | 236 | $64,500 | $1,125 | 5 mi |
| Lane | city | 223 | $47,143 | $1,097 | 13 mi |
| Rantoul | city | 130 | $60,000 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Centropolis | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Regional comparison for Franklin County
Douglas County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Linn County, is 33 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Franklin County; Miami County is highest at $89,000 and Linn County lowest at $59,069.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | - | $77,207 | $1,042/mo | 72% |
| Douglas County, KS | 23 mi | $69,746 | $1,099/mo | 50% |
| Anderson County, KS | 24 mi | $70,614 | $853/mo | 79% |
| Osage County, KS | 24 mi | $74,467 | $785/mo | 82% |
| Miami County, KS | 24 mi | $89,000 | $1,107/mo | 78% |
| Coffey County, KS | 33 mi | $70,346 | $836/mo | 76% |
| Linn County, KS | 33 mi | $59,069 | $691/mo | 81% |
Franklin County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.9%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Indicator | Franklin County | All of Kansas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.6% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.1% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Franklin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Franklin County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Franklin County borrowers.
- Vehicle repairs. 20% of Franklin County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Debt-to-income at Franklin County's medians
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.
- Start: $6,434 gross per month ($77,207 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,042, takes 16% of that
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,532 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Franklin County's.
A Franklin County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Franklin County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Franklin County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Franklin County
Franklin County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Kansas guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Franklin County a high-income county?
Its $77,207 median ranks 14th of 105 Kansas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Franklin County rent compare with Kansas?
$1,042 locally versus $1,060 for the state, 2% below.
I live in a small Franklin County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Ottawa, Wellsville, Pomona, Richmond, Williamsburg and 4 more.
Can Franklin County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Kansas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Franklin County residents?
The Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner licenses consumer lenders in Kansas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.