1st Advantage MortgageThe median Franklin County household earns $74,907, and 12% 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
- Jobs and commutes in Franklin County
- Income in Franklin County compared with Massachusetts
- Renting and owning in Franklin County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Franklin County
- Regional comparison for Franklin County
- What a median Franklin County budget can carry
- Who lives in Franklin County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Franklin County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Franklin County residents
- More guides for Franklin County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Franklin County
With an estimated 70,944 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Franklin County ranks 12th of 14 in Massachusetts for population. Packed into 699 square miles, that is close to 101 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Greenfield is the biggest of its 30 Census places, at roughly 17,664 people (25% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Franklin County
By the Census industry count, 32% of employed Franklin County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 32% locally and 28% for Massachusetts. The survey's unemployment rate for Franklin County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.2%). Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 7.9% of the total (11.7% statewide).
| Sector | Franklin County | Compared with Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.4% | +4.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | -6.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -0.6 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.
Income in Franklin County compared with Massachusetts
The median household income in Franklin County is $74,907; statewide it is $103,960, so Franklin County runs 28% below Massachusetts as a whole.
| Households earning | Franklin County | +/- vs Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.3% | +5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | +10.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.2% | -2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.6% | -13.6 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 12.1%, 2 points higher than the state's 10.0%. None of these numbers decides a Franklin County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Franklin County
A typical Franklin County rental runs $1,177 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Massachusetts. By the Census definition, 57% of Franklin County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $329,000, or 4.4 years of median income. 70% of Franklin County households own their home and 30% rent. Median construction year: 1962.
| Franklin County | Massachusetts | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,177/mo | $1,762/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $329,000 | $562,100 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.2% | 0.8% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Cities, towns and CDPs in Franklin County
30 Census places fall mainly inside Franklin County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 69,511 residents, leaving about 2% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $123,333 at the median in Shutesbury, $48,115 in Orange. Median rent ranges from $963 in Orange to $1,917 in Leyden. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield | city | 17,664 | $55,614 | $1,107 | 2 mi |
| Montague | town | 8,482 | $70,510 | $1,207 | 4 mi |
| Turners Falls | CDP | 4,124 | $54,772 | $1,116 | 2 mi |
| Orange | CDP | 3,737 | $48,115 | $963 | 15 mi |
| Sunderland | town | 3,641 | $68,083 | $1,672 | 8 mi |
| Bernardston | town | 2,164 | $81,940 | $1,283 | 8 mi |
| Buckland | town | 2,036 | $82,877 | $1,111 | 10 mi |
| Shutesbury | town | 1,910 | $123,333 | $1,721 | 13 mi |
| Ashfield | town | 1,893 | $80,833 | $1,100 | 12 mi |
| South Deerfield | CDP | 1,882 | $103,056 | $1,207 | 7 mi |
| Shelburne Falls | CDP | 1,845 | $76,536 | $1,107 | 8 mi |
| Conway | town | 1,755 | $97,250 | $1,800 | 8 mi |
| Gill | town | 1,740 | $90,208 | $1,193 | 5 mi |
| Erving | town | 1,703 | $77,656 | $1,163 | 9 mi |
Regional comparison for Franklin County
Six nearby counties, 17 to 38 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $71,306 in Hampden County to $95,939 in Worcester County; 4 of these neighbors top Franklin County's median. Some neighbors are in New Hampshire and Vermont. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Franklin County resident follows Massachusetts rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | - | $74,907 | $1,177/mo | 70% |
| Hampshire County, MA | 17 mi | $87,001 | $1,388/mo | 68% |
| Windham County, VT | 29 mi | $72,217 | $1,056/mo | 74% |
| Cheshire County, NH | 29 mi | $83,329 | $1,276/mo | 73% |
| Hampden County, MA | 31 mi | $71,306 | $1,136/mo | 62% |
| Berkshire County, MA | 35 mi | $76,013 | $1,097/mo | 70% |
| Worcester County, MA | 38 mi | $95,939 | $1,426/mo | 66% |
What a median Franklin County budget can carry
Here is the Franklin County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $6,242 gross per month ($74,907 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,177, which is 19% of it
- $1,320: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,177, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Franklin County, in numbers
Degree holders: 41% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 2.1%, against 2.6% for Massachusetts.
| Franklin County | Massachusetts | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 40.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.6% | 47.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 8.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.1% | 2.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 11.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 18.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 10.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Franklin County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
What the numbers mean for Franklin County borrowers
What the Franklin County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 57% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Franklin County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Franklin County residents
Consumer lenders serving Franklin County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Massachusetts that is the Massachusetts Division of Banks. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Massachusetts guide.
More guides for Franklin County
For statewide rules and data, see the Massachusetts guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Franklin County household make?
About $74,907 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 28% below the Massachusetts median.
How does Franklin County rent compare with Massachusetts?
$1,177 locally versus $1,762 for the state, 33% below.
Should Franklin County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 70% of Franklin County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
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 Greenfield, Montague, Turners Falls, Orange, Sunderland and 25 more.
Is the fit check different in Franklin County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.