12th most populous of 14
With 70,871 residents in 2024, Franklin County ranks 12th by population among Massachusetts's 14 counties and is home to 1.0% of the state's residents.
Franklin County is home to 70,871 people (2024 estimate) on 699 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
70,871
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
71,032
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−0.2%
2020–2024
Land area
699 mi²
1,811 km²
Population density
101.4 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
493
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
821
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−328
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+345
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$70,392
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$3.7 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$74,907
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
12.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
40.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
5.0%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$329,000
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.6%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–202470,871▼ 1%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 70,871 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 71,372 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 71,471 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | −0.8% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +216 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | +129 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 7.0 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 11.6 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Massachusetts | 12th of 14 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $70,392 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $3.7 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $74,907 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 40.6% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 5.0% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $329,000 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,177/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 47.2 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 31,570 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Franklin County in context
Comparable indicators for Franklin County, Massachusetts and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Massachusetts | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | −0.2% | +1.5% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 7.0 | 9.5 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 11.6 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 4.9 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 101.4 | 914.8 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $70,392 | $93,607 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $74,907 | $103,960 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 10.0% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 40.6% | 47.3% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 5.0% | 18.0% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $329,000 | $562,100 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,177/month | $1,762/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 47.2 years | 40.0 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.1% | 62.5% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Did you know? Franklin County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 71,471 in 2000 to 70,871 in 2024, a change of −0.8%, compared with +12.2% for Massachusetts as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 493 births and 821 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 328.
Peak population in 2005
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 71,879 in 2005. The 2024 figure is 1,008 lower.
14th in density
Franklin County has about 101.4 residents per square mile of land, ranking 14th of 14 counties; Massachusetts averages 914.8.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $74,907 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 13th of 14 Massachusetts counties; the state median is $103,960.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $3.7 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 12th largest among 14 Massachusetts counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP fell 6.4% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS