Franklin County
WA · Pop. 97,676 · Suburban County
Franklin County sits in Washington across 1,242 square miles, home to 97,676 people at 78.6 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, wheat, potatoes. A median home price of $346,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.76% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 160-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.6°F and average winter lows of 26.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 10.2 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Lourdes Medical Center is 22.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 94.1% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.76% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 94.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A strong agricultural economy built on hay, wheat, potatoes means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 160-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 10.2 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- The nearest hospital, Lourdes Medical Center, is 22.8 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
At a glance
Franklin County, WA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 20/100
- Median home price
- $346k
- Property tax
- 0.76%
- Growing season
- 160 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 10.2"
- Broadband
- 94.1%
- Nearest hospital
- Lourdes Medical Center, 22.8 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 7a with a 160-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.6°F, and average winter lows of 26.6°F. The established crops are hay, wheat, potatoes.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $346,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.76%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 94.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Lourdes Medical Center is 22.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Washington Resources
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LandWatch
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Washington
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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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