Franklin (Merced County), California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Franklin (Merced County), California had a total population of 7,392, the 561st largest community in California, with a median household income of $58,295, which is 41% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 22.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 41% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
Franklin (Merced County) Quick Facts
How Franklin (Merced County) Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,487 | 7,392 | -1.3% |
| Median household income | $56,274 | $58,295 | +3.6% |
| Median home value | $285,700 | $308,200 | +7.9% |
How Franklin (Merced County) Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Franklin (Merced County) Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Merced County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | 91,953 | $63,122 | 23.9% | $372,600 |
| Los Banos | 47,593 | $68,171 | 17.3% | $440,900 |
| Atwater | 32,162 | $64,472 | 20.9% | $363,400 |
| Livingston | 14,606 | $74,494 | 17.1% | $372,700 |
| Winton | 11,797 | $57,015 | 14.0% | $339,400 |
| Delhi | 11,009 | $67,500 | 15.5% | $349,700 |
| Gustine | 6,133 | $59,532 | 4.0% | $441,700 |
| Hilmar-Irwin | 6,132 | $79,948 | 12.8% | $449,600 |
| McSwain | 5,783 | $139,131 | 17.1% | $690,100 |
| Dos Palos | 5,765 | $42,367 | 17.6% | $299,500 |
Cities Similar to Franklin (Merced County)
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gridley | 7,330 | $57,974 | $312,800 | 13.6% | 17.9% |
| Magalia | 7,389 | $56,920 | $280,600 | 17.3% | 11.8% |
| Homeland | 7,584 | $60,404 | $238,200 | 6.9% | 14.4% |
| Fort Bragg | 7,032 | $56,481 | $535,400 | 26.4% | 18.2% |
| California Polytechnic State University | 7,915 | N/A | $564,700 | 77.5% | 7.5% |
Population Overview
Franklin (Merced County) is a small city located in California, within Merced County. The total population is 7,392. It ranks as the 561st most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Franklin (Merced County) is 35.4 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Franklin (Merced County) is $58,295. This is 41% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 22.9%. This is 91% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $308,200. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 79.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 41% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Franklin (Merced County) is Hispanic or Latino, making up 58.0% of the population. Asian residents account for 21.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (13.0%) is well below the state average of 33.8%.
Education
13.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 64% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 70.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Franklin (Merced County), California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all California city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Franklin (Merced County), California?
Franklin (Merced County), California has a population of 7,392 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Franklin (Merced County), CA?
The median household income in Franklin (Merced County) is $58,295, which is 28% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Franklin (Merced County), CA?
The poverty rate in Franklin (Merced County) is 22.9%. This means approximately 1,695 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Franklin (Merced County), California?
Franklin (Merced County)'s population is 13.0% White, 6.0% Black, 58.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 21.8% Asian.
What is the median home value in Franklin (Merced County), CA?
The median home value in Franklin (Merced County) is $308,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x.
How educated is Franklin (Merced County), California?
13.2% of adults (25+) in Franklin (Merced County) hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.