Thinking about relocating? Franklin might be the ideal location for you. Let’s take a look at all you need to know about Franklin before you make the move!
First established in the 1700s, the area now called Franklin Township was named for a member of the Franklin family. However, even today, it’s mostly considered a rural community.
Residents enjoy a suburban lifestyle without the metropolitan hustle and bustle thanks to its location just 30 minutes south of Nashville, the country music capital of the world. Home to only 75,000, residents aren’t burdened by traffic delays and backups.
Cost of Living in Franklin
The cost of living in a place will help residents evaluate their earnings and the salary required. The high median home value has made Franklin an expensive place to live. The living costs in Franklin are 126.5% of the local community, meaning that it requires $127 to buy the same amount of goods that cost $100 in an average city. Moreover, Tennessee’s cost of living score is 87.5, whereas it is 135 for Franklin, which is 47.4% more than other parts of the state.
With the median home value being $470,400, these homes come with three to four bedrooms on at least a third of an acre of land. Furthermore, 67% of residents in Franklin TN own their homes while the rest are rented. This is because Franklin has a large range of luxury houses in beautiful residential areas, golf communities, and wonderful condo projects at very reasonable prices.
As per more data, renters pay higher for Franklin homes compared to some other cities across the United States. Studios go for $1,120, while one-bedroom apartments start at $1,227. Moreover, four-bedroom apartments range from $1,487 to $2,343.
Additional living costs include groceries which are about 5.4% above average, which may not be considerably noticeable. Utility expenses are quite high at 15% above normal. Furthermore, miscellaneous costs like repairs and clothing are similarly priced at 18.9% more expensive. Fortunately, on the bright side, health care costs about 88.7% of the price for similar services elsewhere.
The costliest expense for residents might be transportation costs. Consumers within the area pay 45.3% more to travel around the city. Purchasing a house can put a strain on your savings, with a 42.4% increase across the board and $329,000 for a home at the median cost level – the US average of $231,000.
Franklin Job Market
The largest employer is Community Health Systems, with 3,200 employed residents. Other big employers are Nissan North American and United Healthcare, Optum, Tractor Supply Company, and Mars Petcare US, which employ at least 1000 residents.
Popular Industries in the Area
Healthcare, manufacturing and retail are the most popular industries in Franklin, employing over 15% of Franklin residents. Most residents opt to work in Franklin, while others commute to Nashville for higher salaries. With a salary range from $80,000 to $115,000, management companies or manufacturing are the highest paying industries.
According to a consensus in 2017, around 22,600 jobs were in health care and social assistance, 21,729 positions were dedicated to professional, scientific, and technical services, whereas retail trade jobs accounted for 21,017 regular paychecks.
With 17,839 serving the county’s residents, public service is the fourth-highest employment sector. The Township of Franklin government has over 200 local staff serving in law enforcement, social services, and more. A further 703 employees are involved in the education sector employed by the Franklin Township Public Schools.
About seventeen thousand residents work in administrative, support, waste management, and remediation services. Moreover, an additional 15,052 employees report to manufacturing jobs every day.
The IT sector offers employment opportunities in CareCloud (formerly MTBC) provides IT services to healthcare providers around the country. The 2,000 employees strong workforce specializes in automated medical billing, health records management, and other software solutions.
Things to Do in Franklin
Franklin has managed to achieve the best of both worlds. With the allure of nature combined with the comforts of a modern urban scene, you will always have something to do in your leisure time. The rich history depicted through the numerous museums and sprawling golf courses highlights natural beauty; there is something for everyone.
Outdoor Activities
Whether you wish to take in fresh air or just enjoy life’s little pleasures, Franklin got it all. Colonial Park, for instance, is a great place to enjoy outdoor activities with its Spooky Brook Golf course, fishing ponds, softball field, and cycling trails. Snyder’s farm is another great place to enjoy fresh harvest as well as seasonal activities like hayrides, pumpkin patch fun, and corn maze.
You can easily enjoy the weekends for picnics, grills, and playgrounds with family and friends. Some other notable places to visit include Timberland Park, Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge, Shining Times Farm, Marcella Vivrette Smith Park and Middle Tennessee Hot Air Adventures.
Recreation
A hungry stomach can make the most beautiful sceneries seem bland, and what joy is life without good food and drinks. Something is fascinating to try for everyone’s taste buds and budgets, whether you crave southern comfort cuisine or want to have a romantic night with exquisite dining. For instance, Puckett’s offers the best southern food whereas Luca’s Ristorante transports you to Ischia in Italy.
If you wish for a night out with friends to enjoy the next Rutgers game with a beer, then you may enjoy the Ale ‘N ‘Wich Pub in New Brunswick. Other great beer options include Jersey Cyclone Brewing Company, Cool Springs Brewery, and Granite City Brewery, with some unique craft beer flavors.
However, you will need to wait until 1 PM to enjoy a drink on Sundays as per Tennessee laws.
Franklin Climate
With a 7.3/10 on the comfort scale, Franklin is known for its mild, temperate climate, where you can enjoy all the seasons. With 205 days of sunshine and 48 inches of rain, and 23 inches of snow, respectively, per year, Franklin weather is nearly perfect.
Franklin Traffic
Despite the usual morning and evening rush hours, Franklin’s commute is only 22 minutes on average. Driving to Nashville may take up to 30 minutes and at least an hour to NYC or Philadelphia. Franklin is built on a grid system that is great to avoid congestion. Still, that leaves residents commuting outside the community for work with only two possible routes to travel on- NJ-27 or I-287 with no other alternatives. Fortunately, parking with the community is fairly good.
Public Transportation in Franklin
Only 7.4% of residents use the mass transit system. There are no subways, light rails, or train cars. However, a fixed-route bus service is available, costing $1 per ride each way. Lap children are exempt from charges, while seniors and less-able-bodied residents have to pay $0.50.
TODD is another option for curbside pickups that have routes ¾ of a mile around downtown and cost about $5 per rider. Uber and Lyft are popular ride-sharing services available but can take up longer waiting times.
Franklin Schools
Franklin has two school districts, so families on the edges of these districts may need to request their child’s bus stop or drive them there. The district has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school offering AP, IB, and gifted programs. There’s a 10-to-1 ratio of students to teachers.
There are no colleges or universities within Franklin Township. However, Rutgers University has a college in nearby New Brunswick with annual fees of $21,000 for undergraduate programs. Additionally, Middlesex College is about 16 minutes away in Edison, NJ, and charges about $8,650 after aid.
Conclusion
Franklin Township allows you to enjoy the city delights with its proximity without having to pay sky-high rent and ridiculous expenses. Residents are also able to enjoy a quiet home outside the hustle and bustle of a metro while nurturing relationships in a close community. Franklin is a great place to grow your roots and live in to enjoy the modern conveniences without compromising on its small-town vibes.
