Franklin, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 435, Franklin's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Franklin is a small community located in West Virginia, within Pendleton County. The total population is 435. It ranks as the 250th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Franklin is 62.0 years. This is 45% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 12.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 21.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Franklin is $63,889. This is 7% higher than the state median of $59,608. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.3%. This is 38% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Franklin, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $219,200. Housing costs are 35% higher than the state median of $162,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 66.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Franklin has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 5.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (5.5% vs 3.1%).

Education

30.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 24.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Franklin, West Virginia 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 West Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.