Cost of Living in Franklin County, Washington
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 #2,717 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 14%)
Sourced county brief
Franklin County Selected Monthly Owner Costs Exceed State Unweighted Mean
Median selected monthly owner costs in Franklin County were $1,437 for all owner-occupied units, a figure that is $117 higher than the Washington state unweighted county mean of $1,320. The median home value in the county was estimated at $379,300, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $436,313. For renters, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 29.0 percent. This official GRAPI differs from the state unweighted county mean of 29.7 percent by 0.7 percentage points. The median gross rent was $1,198 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,251. Renter households in the county had a median income of $52,424. These statistics are derived from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey estimates. 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 29.0% 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 $1,198 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,437. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $47,920 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 Washington unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,251 per month. Franklin County's $1,198 median is 4.3% below 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
16.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,023
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.9%
of gross income
The median home in Franklin County may be a stretch
Median home value is $379,300. Estimated monthly cost: $3,028 vs. your max of $2,023.
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
What is the cost of living in Franklin County, Washington?
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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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