Franklin County
MA · Pop. 70,922 · Mixed County
Franklin County, Massachusetts covers 699 square miles with a population of 70,922 and a density of 101.5 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $303,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.51%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 148-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.5°F and average winter lows of 14.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 49.5 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Baystate Franklin Medical Center is 0.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 97.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Baystate Franklin Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 0.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A median household income of $72,584 anchors the local economy.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 148-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.51% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
- Average winter lows of 14.8°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Franklin County, MA is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 46/100
- Median home price
- $303k
- Property tax
- 1.51%
- Growing season
- 148 days (zone 6a)
- Annual rainfall
- 49.5"
- Broadband
- 97.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 0.8 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 6a with a 148-day growing season, average summer highs of 79.5°F, and average winter lows of 14.8°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $303,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.51%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 97.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Baystate Franklin Medical Center is 0.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Massachusetts Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Massachusetts
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The closest counties to Franklin County by distance, including across state lines.
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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