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City Housing Verdict

Franklin, WI

Stretch

The cost of living in Franklin, WI is 12% above the national average (Cost Index: 112). Homes here are typically valued around $426,099, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $108,342 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Franklin sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Franklin.

Monthly Housing
$1,325/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
15%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$7,204/mo
After housing and debt · $2,401/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 20%
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Cost Index
112
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$426,099
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $343,400
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,325/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$108,342
National: $78,538
Population
35,751
Purchasing Power
123
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
140 / 100
40% above average
Rent Index
98 / 100
Close to average
Goods & Groceries
94 / 100
6% cheaper than average
Utilities
92 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
99 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
112
Expensive · 12% above average

Franklin Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $426,099 and Wisconsin's property tax rate of 1.76%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$108,342
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
15%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
3.9x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Franklin looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Franklin, WI

Est. Annual Property Tax
$7,499
Monthly Impact
$625
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.76%
National avg: ~1.00%

Wisconsin Place Tax Context

Tax TypeWisconsinNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.76%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate7.65%~5.0%
State Sales Tax5.44%~5.0%

Compare Franklin to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Franklin, WI
112
98
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Franklin, WI: 140
Rent Prices
98

FAQ: Living in Franklin

Is Franklin, WI an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Franklin is about 12% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 112. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $426,099, and monthly rents average roughly $1,325. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Franklin fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,325, while local median household income is $108,342. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 15% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Franklin, WI?+

Wisconsin has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 7.65%. The effective property tax rate is 1.76%. On a home worth $426,099, that translates to roughly $7,499 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 5.44% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Franklin, WI?+

The typical monthly rent in Franklin is around $1,325. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $426,099, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Franklin, WI?+

The median home in Franklin is valued at $426,099. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,155/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 78% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Franklin?+

Grocery prices in Franklin are more affordable compared to the rest of the US (index: 94, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 92). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Franklin, WI like to live in?+

Franklin is a smaller city with a population of about 35,751. The median age of residents is 43.2, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 6.92%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Wisconsin

If Franklin feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Wisconsin

Use these city pages when you want to compare Franklin against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly