Cost of Living in Franklin County, Kentucky
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Franklin County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Franklin County ranks #2,104 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 33%)
Sourced county brief
Franklin County Median Gross Rent Surpasses State Mean
The median gross rent in Franklin County, Kentucky, was $967 per month, according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. This value is $174 higher than the Kentucky unweighted county mean of $793. The median home value in the county was estimated at $216,600, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $160,835. Owners in the county had median selected monthly costs of $992, which is $239 above the state unweighted county mean of $753. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 27.3%, only 0.1 percentage points different from the state unweighted county mean of 27.2%. The median income for renter households in Franklin County was $41,888. These figures offer a cross-sectional view of housing and income data for the five-year period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Franklin County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.3% of renter household income in Franklin County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $967 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $992. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $38,680 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Kentucky unweighted mean of county median rents is $793 per month. Franklin County's $967 median is 21.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Franklin County
Rent Burden
17.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,524
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.2%
of gross income
The median home in Franklin County may be a stretch
Median home value is $216,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,729 vs. your max of $1,524.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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