1st Advantage MortgageFranklin County households have a median income of $86,714 and median rent of $1,198 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Franklin County
- The Franklin County job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Franklin County
- Franklin County housing compared with Washington
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Franklin County
- What a median Franklin County budget can carry
- Reading the Franklin County data as a borrower
- More Franklin County figures
- A Franklin County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Franklin County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Franklin County
Roughly 98,902 residents live in Franklin County, Washington, 14th by population among the state's 39 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,242 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 80 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Kennewick-Richland, WA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Pasco is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 79,575 people (80% of the county total).
The Franklin County job picture
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Franklin County residents work in education and health care and 12% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Franklin County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. 4.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Franklin County | Compared with Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.2% | +9.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -4.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +1.2 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Franklin County
Half of Franklin County households take in less than $86,714 a year and half take in more, 12% below the Washington median of $98,141.
| Household income | Franklin County | vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.7% | +0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | +6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.2% | -0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.2% | -6.3 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 42% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.1%, 3 points higher than the state's 9.9%. None of these numbers decides a Franklin County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Franklin County housing compared with Washington
A typical Franklin County rental runs $1,198 a month including utilities, which is 32% below Washington. By the Census definition, 48% of Franklin County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $379,300, or 4.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Median construction year: 1997.
| Housing | Franklin County | Washington statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,198/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $379,300 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.6% | 5.5% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Walla Walla County at 28 miles out to Garfield County at 65. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Franklin County; Benton County is highest at $89,874 and Garfield County lowest at $64,884.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | - | $86,714 | $1,198/mo | 71% |
| Walla Walla County, WA | 28 mi | $74,202 | $1,218/mo | 65% |
| Benton County, WA | 36 mi | $89,874 | $1,306/mo | 68% |
| Adams County, WA | 38 mi | $66,136 | $877/mo | 69% |
| Columbia County, WA | 50 mi | $71,810 | $985/mo | 78% |
| Grant County, WA | 54 mi | $73,267 | $1,116/mo | 66% |
| Garfield County, WA | 65 mi | $64,884 | $791/mo | 77% |
Places inside Franklin County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Franklin County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 87,553 people, so roughly 11% of residents live outside any named place. West Pasco has the highest median household income on the list ($120,341) and Basin City the lowest ($59,840), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Connell ($1,011) and steepest in Pasco ($1,227). None of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasco | city | 79,575 | $85,586 | $1,227 | 21 mi |
| Connell | city | 5,054 | $77,721 | $1,011 | 9 mi |
| Basin City | CDP | 1,176 | $59,840 | n/a | 13 mi |
| West Pasco | CDP | 1,122 | $120,341 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Mesa | city | 502 | $83,056 | $1,083 | 5 mi |
| Kahlotus | city | 124 | $94,688 | n/a | 18 mi |
What a median Franklin County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Franklin County's medians:
- $7,226 a month: gross income for a household at the Franklin County median
- Median rent: $1,198, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,692 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Franklin County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Franklin County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Franklin County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Franklin County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Higher earners. 42% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
More Franklin County figures
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. 13.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Franklin County | Washington | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.9 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.1% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 22.6% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.2% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.9% |
A Franklin County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Franklin County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Franklin County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Franklin County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Franklin County borrowers answers to the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Washington guide.
Related local guides
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Franklin County earn?
The median is $86,714; 42% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Franklin County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,198 a month; 48% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Franklin County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% 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 Pasco, Connell, Basin City, West Pasco, Mesa and 1 more.
Will a Franklin County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Washington as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.