Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Only 2 of the 274 Minnesota towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Franklin. Franklin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Franklin beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 284 in 1890, 493 in 2020. The archive holds 13 old photos and papers going back to 1891 and 2 maps from 1952 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Franklin, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Franklin.
The typical Franklin home is worth about $170,000, up 13.1% in a year, 51% below the Minnesota typical home. Franklin’s median rent is $838 a month, against $1,196 a month in Minnesota’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns. 84% of households own their home in Franklin.
| Franklin | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $838 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 84% | 75% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Cedar Mountain School District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Mountain ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 171 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 76% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Franklin has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Among 275 Minnesota towns, just 3 have a higher July high than Franklin.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Franklin’s median household income is $52,000, where Minnesota’s towns sit at $90,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. 16% of Franklin residents live below the poverty line. Most working residents leave Franklin for work: only 6% work in town.
| Franklin | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 16% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $52,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 6.3% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Among 272 Minnesota towns, just 6 have a higher share of adults who smoke cigarettes than Franklin. Franklin beats the Minnesota average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. Among 272 Minnesota towns, just 3 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Franklin.
| Franklin | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 10% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 23% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 12% | 14% |
| What stands out | Franklin | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.3% | 76.1% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.3% | 5.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Franklin; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Franklin residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
City in Minnesota, United States
Franklin is a city in Renville County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, Franklin had a population of 493.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Franklin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.