Pleasant
RANK #620 / 996 NAT · #26 / 28 IN · POP 161,952
1YR FORECAST: +0.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
Franklin, the county seat, stands out in Johnson County, Indiana, as the home of Franklin College, notable for being the first college in Indiana to admit women in 1842. Located directly south of Indianapolis, Johnson County offers a suburban and rural feel with a commute of about 20 minutes to downtown Indianapolis from its largest city, Greenwood. The county features over 1,200 acres of parks, including Johnson County Park with five miles of hiking trails and the Hoosier Horse Park, which hosted equestrian events for the 1987 Pan American Games.
Life in Johnson County often appeals to families, with several school corporations including Center Grove, Clark-Pleasant, and Franklin Community Schools. Public transportation, such as Access Johnson County, provides fixed routes within Franklin and Greenwood and connections to Indianapolis. The economy is experiencing growth in commercial and residential development, with new housing projects underway. While manufacturing and logistics are significant sectors, the county is also seeing investment in other areas, contributing to a diverse economic landscape.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.6x 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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Receive Center
Amazon.com Inc.
|
$80M | Completed |
|
The Post Mixed-Use Development
Undisclosed
|
$59M | Under Construction |
|
Pulte Homes' Iron Horse Development
Pulte Homes
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Innovation Park (Franklin College)
Franklin College
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
At 37/100, Johnson County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $82,730 combined with job growth of +1.4% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Johnson County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $240,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $1,155/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Johnson County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.4% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.4% clip. Home values shifted +1.1% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 6.57% of Johnson County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.