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Franklin Grade and High SchoolFranklin Grade and High School · Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0
≈ C−Health Grade
Health in Franklin · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Franklin is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns

Franklin trails Kentucky on 2 of 31 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Franklin. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out

What stands out about health in Franklin

Health Grade

What’s behind Franklin’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Franklin is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, #93 of 141 in Kentucky. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 34% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 10%).

C−Self-rated health23.5% · KY 22.4% · U.S. 19.4%
CPhysical distress15.5% · KY 15.2% · U.S. 13%
CMental distress18.5% · KY 17.4% · U.S. 15.9%
DObesity42.2% · KY 38.3% · U.S. 32.9%
C−Diabetes13.9% · KY 13.7% · U.S. 12%
DSmoking19.8% smoke · KY 18.5% · U.S. 11.8%
CExercise27.9% · KY 26.9% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 17%
Less healthyHealthier
Kentucky towns we grade (141)Healthier than 34%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $44K–$74K (8,681)Healthier than 26%

Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Franklin’s median household income is $59,052; among the 8,681 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 26%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.

Few Kentucky towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Franklin is healthier than 34% of graded towns, against 17% nationally.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Franklin could be anywhere from D− to B−. The letter shows with “≈”.
A note on the data.property crimes reported to the FBI went from 241 in 2023 to 93 in 2024

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Franklin adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Kentucky.

78%Yearly checkupKY 79%
57%Dentist visitKY 58%
84%Cholesterol checkKY 84%
65%Colon screeningKY 66%
75%MammogramKY 73%
80%Taking BP medsKY 81%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Franklin 7.1% · Kentucky 1 in 19 (5.4%)
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Franklin adults…

On every condition, Franklin is about the same as Kentucky. Tap one to see it as people.

38 of every 100 Franklin adults have high blood pressure
Kentucky: 39 in 100 · about the same · likely 33.6–43%
Better than KYWorseAbout the sameKentucky
Getting care

Care in and near Franklin

1 hospital in Franklin, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERThe Medical Center at FranklinFranklin · ≈0 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyTristar Greenview Regional Hospital★★★★★ · 18.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careFairview Community Health CenterBowling Green · 19.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
≈0 mi
The Medical Center at Franklin
Franklin · not rated
ERRural critical accessIn Franklin
18.4 mi
Tristar Greenview Regional Hospital
Bowling Green · ★★★★★
ER
19.1 mi
The Medical Center at Scottsville
Scottsville · not rated
ERRural critical access
19.3 mi
Fairview Community Health Center
Bowling Green · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
19.4 mi
Logan County Community Health Center
Russellville · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
20.2 mi
The Medical Center at Russellville
Russellville · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Franklin itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Franklin itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Franklin itself

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Franklin; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Kentucky

Share of adults, with the Kentucky figure marked.

Get no exercise 27.9%KY 26.9%
Sleep under 7 hours 42.6%KY 39.6%
Binge drink 14.3%KY 14.2%
Smoke cigarettes 19.8%KY 18.5%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Franklin, betterFranklin, worseAbout the sameKentucky
Where Franklin gets moving

5.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Franklin adults are doing

About the same as Kentucky on each measure.

1 in 4Franklin adults lack social or emotional support
24.5% · KY 22.5% · About the same as KY
1 in 4Franklin adults have been diagnosed with depression
27.3% · KY 26.7% · About the same as KY
1 in 5Franklin adults are in frequent mental distress
18.5% · KY 17.4% · About the same as KY
The one neighbors can help with

A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 6
Franklin adults worry about having enough food
17.4% · KY 15.5%
About the same as KY
1 in 7
Franklin adults worry about keeping their housing
13.8% · KY 11.7%
Worse than KY
1 in 10
Franklin adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.9% · KY 8.8%
About the same as KY
1 in 10
Franklin adults lack reliable transportation
9.8% · KY 8.8%
About the same as KY

16.2% of Franklin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.5% across Kentucky.

Around town

Franklin and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
FranklinC−42.2%13.9%19.8%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

38.2%

of Franklin adults live with a disability (Kentucky 37.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs17.8%
Thinking or memory18.4%
Hearing8.5%
Errands alone9.9%
Vision6.2%
Dressing or bathing4.4%
Kentucky

Every CDC estimate for Franklin

Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Franklin is better than Kentucky on 0 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Kentucky figure falls inside Franklin’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…FranklinKYU.S.vs KY
Overall health
Fair or poor health23.5%20.8–26.122.4%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)15.5%13.7–17.415.2%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18.5%16.5–20.517.4%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity42.2%33.6–50.538.3%32.9%About the same
Diabetes13.9%12–15.913.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure38.2%33.6–4338.8%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)35.4%30.6–40.436.8%37.1%About the same
Arthritis31.9%28–35.632.2%25.3%About the same
Asthma11.7%10.2–13.311.1%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8%7.1–8.88.7%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease7.8%7–8.68.2%6.4%About the same
COPD10.4%9.3–11.610.2%6.3%About the same
Stroke4.1%3.7–4.44%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)19.9%16.2–23.818.9%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes19.8%17.2–22.418.5%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work27.9%23.3–32.526.9%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking14.3%11.3–17.514.2%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours42.6%34.9–5039.6%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.1%5.9–8.55.4%11%Worse
Checkup in the past year77.6%73.2–81.278.7%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year56.5%52.1–60.558.1%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years84.4%81.6–87.184.2%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)80.4%77.4–83.381.3%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)64.7%59–69.765.8%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)74.7%65.9–81.772.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression27.3%23.1–31.526.7%20.6%About the same
Lack social and emotional support24.5%20.9–28.122.5%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food17.4%15.5–19.315.5%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing13.8%12.1–15.411.7%12%Worse
Threatened with a utility shut-off9.9%8.7–11.28.8%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation9.8%8.8–10.78.8%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)16.2%14.4–18.114.5%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability38.2%33.4–42.837.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs17.8%15.7–19.917.3%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering18.4%16.3–20.417.3%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.5%7.5–9.69%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty6.2%5.6–6.86%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone9.9%8.8–10.99.4%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing4.4%4.1–4.84.4%3.8%About the same

Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Kentucky figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Franklin

Is Franklin a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Franklin is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #93 of 141 in Kentucky. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 26%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Franklin?

CDC estimates 42.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.6% and 50.5%, against 38.3% across Kentucky and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Franklin?

The Medical Center at Franklin in Franklin, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Franklin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Franklin have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–8.5%), against 5.4% across Kentucky.

How accurate are these numbers?

They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Franklin more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Franklin.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Kentucky figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.