Franklin County
IL · Pop. 37,541 · Suburban County
Franklin County, Illinois covers 409 square miles with a population of 37,541 and a density of 91.8 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on soybeans, corn, wheat. A median home price of $88,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.5% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 197-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.5°F and average winter lows of 26.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 44.6 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Franklin Hospital is 1.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.2% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 197-day growing season in USDA zone 7a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A median home price of $88,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 96.2% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Franklin Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 1.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on soybeans, corn, wheat means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.5% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
At a glance
Franklin County, IL is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 67/100
- Median home price
- $88k
- Property tax
- 1.5%
- Growing season
- 197 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 44.6"
- Broadband
- 96.2%
- Nearest hospital
- Franklin Hospital, 1.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Franklin County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Franklin County?
- Franklin County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 197-day growing season, average summer highs of 87.5°F, and average winter lows of 26.3°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $88,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.5%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 96.2% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Franklin Hospital is 1.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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