Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Franklin’s median age is 62 years, above both West Virginia’s towns (42.2 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). Only 3 of the 62 West Virginia towns we compare have a lower January low than Franklin. Franklin has 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Pendleton County Poor Farm and McCoy Mill. Franklin has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Franklin beats most towns.
Census counts: 273 in 1880, a peak of 914 in 1990, 495 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 1912 and 4 maps from 1922 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
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 Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Franklin.
About one in 4 of Franklin’s working residents works in town. Since 2013, Franklin has lost 69 jobs, to 695 in 2023. 10% of Franklin residents live below the poverty line, below the West Virginia town median (16%) and near the median of U.S. towns (9.6%).
| Franklin | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 26% | 14% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $64,000 | $59,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by the Pendleton County Schools. Its one school is below. The largest public high school is Pendleton County Middle/High School, with 386 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pendleton County Middle/High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 386 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts
People 65 and older are 41% of residents (21% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 3% of residents (21% statewide). Franklin has lost 7.2% of its people since 2020, down to 527 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 24% across West Virginia.
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4 points. Across West Virginia, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Franklin | WV | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 0% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.6% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 0% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 3.4% | 12% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 19.3% | 12% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 6.9% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 16.8% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 19.8% | 12.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 21.1% | 8.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 15.5% | 10.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 43.4% | 39.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 10.8% | 17.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 0% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.9% | 14.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.3% | 9.7% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 500, single groups can be off by several points
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 89% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 6 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Franklin.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The typical Franklin home is worth about $218,000, up 7% in a year, 24% above the West Virginia typical home.
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Franklin has chilly winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Franklin is 83°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
83% of Franklin adults had a checkup this year. Franklin beats the West Virginia average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 47% of Franklin adults have high blood pressure.
| Franklin | West Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 44% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 14% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 16% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 17% | 14% |
| What stands out | Franklin | WV |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.9% | 11% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 9.5% | 12.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.6% | 9.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Franklin Town Park | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Franklin; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Franklin residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across West Virginia.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
3 places in Franklin on the National Register of Historic Places.
4 notable people were born in Franklin.
Town in West Virginia, United States
Franklin is a town in and the county seat of Pendleton County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 486 at the 2020 census. Franklin was established in 1794 and named for Francis Evick, an early settler.
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.
4 notable people were born here, including Howard Hille Johnson and Jacob Owens.
