RANK #271 / 1001 NAT · #1 / 12 MA · POP 70,944
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +20%
Franklin County, Massachusetts, is defined by its rural character and natural scenery, with the Connecticut River bisecting its forested hills. Greenfield serves as the county seat and most populous community. The county is located in western Massachusetts, bordering New Hampshire and Vermont, and offers a commute to larger cities like Boston, approximately 45 minutes to 1.5 hours away by car, depending on traffic. Commuter rail options are also available from towns like Franklin to Boston's South Station. The area is known for outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and zip-lining, with attractions like the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls and Mount Sugarloaf providing scenic views.
Life in Franklin County often appeals to those seeking a balance of community and access to nature. The region's public schools include options like Four Rivers Charter Public School and Greenfield Public Schools. While some residents commute to nearby urban centers, the local economy is supported by sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture, with a focus on local food and beverage producers. Recent economic development efforts have focused on revitalizing downtown areas in towns like Northfield, Turners Falls, and Shelburne Falls, and expanding infrastructure to support job creation and housing.
Franklin County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.6% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 16.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Franklin County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Wendell Battery Energy Storage System (105 MW)
Undisclosed
|
$105M | Proposed |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (e.g., Plankton Energy, Kearsarge Energy, Navisun LLC, FirstLight Power Resources, Inc. - MA)
|
$50M | Operating/Under Construction |
|
Maplegate Country Club Solar Redevelopment (30 MW)
NextGrid
|
$38M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 73/100, Franklin County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $74,907 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in MA.
Franklin County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $329,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,177/month on average.
Franklin County's job market is contracting (-1.7% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.0% change). Home values are +1.6% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.97% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Franklin County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.