RANK #487 / 996 · POP 1,318,149 · OH
PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.8%
Franklin County, Ohio, is home to Columbus, the state capital and its most populous city, giving the county a distinctive urban core alongside suburban communities like Dublin and Worthington. Situated in central Ohio, Franklin County serves as a transportation crossroads, with major routes facilitating commutes. The community offers a blend of historic neighborhoods and newer developments. Outdoor recreation is accessible through 22 Metro Parks, featuring over 270 miles of trails and diverse natural areas like Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, known for its bison, and Blendon Woods Metro Park, popular for bird watching.
Life in Franklin County caters to a diverse population, including families drawn to areas with strong school districts such as Dublin City Schools and Upper Arlington Schools. Commute times average around 21.5 minutes, with many residents driving alone, though public transit options like the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) are available and expanding. The economy is driven by sectors like healthcare, education, and professional services, with significant investment in technology infrastructure, including broadband and data centers. The county is also a hub for higher education, anchored by The Ohio State University.
Below national median
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.9x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Meta New Albany Data Center (Prometheus Supercluster)
Meta
|
$1,500M | Under Construction |
|
Google Lockbourne Data Center Campus
Google
|
$600M | Operating |
|
Microsoft New Albany Data Center
Microsoft
|
$420M | Under Construction |
|
Pleasant Prairie Solar Energy Center
Invenergy
|
$230M | Under Construction |
|
Hayden Place Master-Planned Development
Undisclosed Developer
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Franklin County has a Boom Town Index score of 51/100, ranking #487 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.9% and a median household income of $71,070, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Franklin County is $243,100 with median rent at $1,169/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2923, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.3% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.9%. Home values changed +0.1% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.78% of Franklin County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.