Population 30,413 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Franklin County
Household size in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.35 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Franklin County is a place of small households, averaging 2.32 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. That is in line with the rest of Maine. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.1 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.3 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.7 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.1 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.0 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Franklin County skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.1, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.7% of households in Franklin County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 4.6 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Franklin County has the lowest share of single-parent households of any Maine county.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Franklin County
Renters in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.3% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.8% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.7% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.7% of households in Franklin County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (51.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the center. The renter share is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.3% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.1% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 31.6% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.0% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Franklin County: 27.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Housing in Franklin County leans a little older: the median home dates to 1974, against 1980 nationally. That is in line with the rest of Maine. The median year built has moved up from 1968 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $616 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $681 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $667 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $810 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$194 | +$464 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Franklin County costs $810 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $194 a month from 2006–10, a 32% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.8% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Only one other Maine county has lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Franklin County
Bachelor's degrees in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.7% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.2% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.2% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Franklin County (33.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Maine overall (36.5%). The share with a degree is up 7.5 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.0% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.7% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.0% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Franklin County is above the national rate: 94.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Maine. The share with a diploma is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Franklin County
| Period | Franklin County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Franklin County is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Maine overall (3.9%). Unemployment is down 3.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Franklin County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 2.32 | 46.1 | 6.7% | 23.7% | 27.0% | 1974 | $810 | 33.2% | 94.0% | 5.3% |
| Somerset County | 2.18 | 46.3 | 9.1% | 22.6% | 19.0% | 1975 | $953 | 21.2% | 93.1% | 3.5% |
| Essex County | 2.11 | 50.0 | 8.6% | 17.6% | 39.2% | 1971 | $863 | 21.7% | 89.9% | 4.6% |
| Orleans County | 2.26 | 46.1 | 8.9% | 20.3% | 24.7% | 1977 | $943 | 30.8% | 92.3% | 5.4% |
| Washington County | 2.16 | 48.3 | 10.1% | 20.3% | 32.0% | 1974 | $824 | 24.7% | 91.0% | 6.2% |
| Franklin County | 2.56 | 42.0 | 10.7% | 22.6% | 14.3% | 1976 | $1,258 | 30.1% | 93.6% | 3.3% |
| Grand Isle County | 2.38 | 49.9 | 4.6% | 10.1% | 38.7% | 1984 | $1,550 | 43.5% | 95.6% | 3.2% |
| Clinton County | 2.21 | 42.5 | 11.7% | 30.6% | 12.8% | 1974 | $1,006 | 27.8% | 88.9% | 4.3% |
| Franklin County | 2.21 | 42.2 | 13.0% | 27.5% | 19.6% | 1968 | $847 | 24.3% | 88.0% | 4.2% |
| St. Lawrence County | 2.34 | 40.6 | 11.4% | 28.1% | 18.7% | 1967 | $833 | 26.1% | 89.2% | 5.2% |
| Alcona County | 1.95 | 58.8 | 6.6% | 10.4% | 43.9% | 1975 | $892 | 21.2% | 92.9% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yadkin County, NC · Alexander County, NC · Addison County, VT · Albany County, WY · Natchitoches Parish, LA · Monroe County, GA · Monroe County, IL · Monroe County, MS · Montezuma County, CO · Morgan County, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Franklin County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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