C

Franklin, WV

Source:

Affordability Score: 56/100

Population: 2,947 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Franklin, WV aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 2,947 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (56/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $66,750, median home value of $255,000, median rent of $725 per month, and 20.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $869 per month (studio $667, 1BR $706, 3BR $1,209, 4BR $1,219). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $9,301 per year, consuming 14% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Franklin, WV include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 2.4% and poverty 12.7% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C-
$66,750
Median household income
Education F
20.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.8x
Home value $255,000 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A
$869/mo
2BR fair market rent (16% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C
$9,301/yr
Center-based infant care (14% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$66,750
▲ 8% vs national
Per Capita Income
$38,373
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Poverty Rate
12.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
$255,000
▼ 7% vs national
Median Rent
$725/mo
Owner Occupied
88.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$869/mo
▼ 28% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$667
1BR
$706
2BR
$869
3BR
$1,209
4BR
$1,219

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
20.9%
▼ 9 ppt vs national
High School+
69.3%
Median Age
51.2
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$9,301/yr
14% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,825/yr
Preschool (Center)
$6,960/yr
School-Age (Center)
$8,113/yr

What This Means

Franklin, WV receives an overall affordability grade of C (56/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 2,947. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Franklin ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Franklin, WV affordable?
Franklin, WV receives an overall affordability grade of C (56/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $66,750. Median home value is $255,000.
What is the cost of living in Franklin?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $725/mo. 2BR fair market rent $869/mo. Infant childcare $9,301/yr. Median home value $255,000.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →