1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Franklin County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $52,939. 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
- Who lives in Franklin County
- What Franklin County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Franklin County
- Franklin County housing compared with Mississippi
- Franklin County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Franklin County
- A Franklin County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Franklin County
- People and households in Franklin County
- Steps before you apply in Franklin County
- Who licenses lenders for Franklin County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Franklin County
With an estimated 7,622 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Franklin County ranks 76th of 82 in Mississippi for population. Spread over 564 square miles, that works out to roughly 13.5 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Franklin County is not part of any metropolitan area. Bude is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 947 people (12% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Franklin County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Franklin County households earn
The median household income in Franklin County is $52,939; statewide it is $56,447, so Franklin County runs 6% below Mississippi as a whole.
| Band | Franklin County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.9% | +7.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | -1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.2% | -6.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | +0.7 pts |
About 40% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 25.4%, 7 points higher than the state's 18.9%. None of these numbers decides a Franklin County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Franklin County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Franklin County residents work in education and health care and 14% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.0% in Franklin County. About 84% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.1% of the total (6.3% statewide).
| Sector | Franklin County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.7% | +11.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.8% | -3.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.6% | +1.8 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Franklin County housing compared with Mississippi
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $725 in Franklin County versus $954 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 34% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $101,900, about 1.9 times the median household income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Median construction year: 1981.
| Housing | Franklin County | Mississippi statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $725/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $101,900 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.6% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 29% | 15% | 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.
Franklin County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 20 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. None of the six report a higher median household income than Franklin County; Lincoln County is highest at $51,119 and Claiborne County lowest at $31,897.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | - | $52,939 | $725/mo | 82% |
| Jefferson County, MS | 20 mi | $38,305 | $448/mo | 83% |
| Amite County, MS | 20 mi | $37,222 | $670/mo | 82% |
| Lincoln County, MS | 26 mi | $51,119 | $760/mo | 75% |
| Adams County, MS | 27 mi | $43,644 | $734/mo | 68% |
| Wilkinson County, MS | 33 mi | $35,311 | $686/mo | 78% |
| Claiborne County, MS | 34 mi | $31,897 | $660/mo | 77% |
The communities that make up Franklin County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 25% of Franklin County residents live in one of the 3. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bude | town | 947 | $25,484 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Meadville | town | 535 | $56,472 | $1,018 | 0 mi |
| Roxie | town | 428 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A Franklin County household budget, worked through
Franklin County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,412 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $725, takes 16% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $863 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,172 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Franklin County's.
Before borrowing in Franklin County
Based on the Franklin County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Franklin County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 22% of Franklin County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 25% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
People and households in Franklin County
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 9.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Franklin County | Mississippi | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.0% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.3% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.1% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.4% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Franklin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 14.3% |
Steps before you apply in Franklin County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Franklin County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Franklin County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Franklin County resident can confirm its license with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Mississippi: Mississippi personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Franklin County earn?
The median is $52,939; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 40% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Franklin County?
$725 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Franklin County?
By population: Bude, Meadville, Roxie. The county has 3 Census places in all.
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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Franklin County?
Start with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.