Franklin County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Franklin County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 71,962. It is the 37th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Franklin County is 40.9 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Franklin County is $71,386. This is 2% higher than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 9% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.1%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 15% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $240,900. Housing costs are 7% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 78.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Franklin County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.9%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

24.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.7%.