Fast-growing Nashville metro city with historic small-town charm
Named after one of the country’s founding fathers, Franklin is a fast-growing Nashville city brimming with historic small-town charm. In addition to its series of distinct 19th-century era properties, the city is also known as the site of the Battle of Franklin, one of the Civil War’s deadliest conflicts. Having undergone battlefield reclamation efforts—some of the best in the country—Franklin has restored portions of its former war site, which now garners both local and national attention.
Franklin Mayor Ken Moore summarizes his town’s character, by saying, "It's the quality of life, the low taxes, the excellent schools. It’s also our historic Main Street and our battlefield.” City Alderman Beverly Burger agrees, adding, “We have a saying: ‘We’re just south of Nashville, but if you want a unique atmosphere and experience, quality of life and everything else, we’re 20 miles and 100 years south of Nashville.’”
Franklin is also a microcosm of the greater Nashville area, which has evolved from a region renowned for its music scene to a new Southern hub for various industries. Franklin and its surrounding farmlands attract homebuyers of all walks of life — with some famous residents too — like singer Carrie Underwood, or celebrity couple Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. Nissan and Mitsubishi also have their headquarters in Franklin which has contributed to the area's overarching economy and growth. Today, the U.S. Census ranks Franklin as the eighth-fastest growing city in the country, with a population of 88,000 — nearly double what it was around the turn of the 20th century. “We have people move here quite often for high-paying jobs. The talent pool is pretty robust here,” says Jena Potter, the director of communications for Williamson Inc., the umbrella organization for Williamson County’s Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Office.
Heavily wooded lots are common in Franklin.
Franklin Tennessee is located south of Nashville in Williamson County.
You can walk you dog on the quiet streets of the Downtown Franklin neighborhood.
The Historic Downtown Franklin Square has a memorial to the Civil War in the center.
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Housing from elegant 19th century builds to new Craftsmen
Known as a part of the string of affluent communities south of Nashville, the Franklin area has a median housing cost of just under $900,000. This figure is higher than Nashville’s median price of $490,000 and more than double the national median.
Near Central Franklin , prospective buyers will find elegant Victorian-style homes, classic Colonials and brick bungalows from both the 19th and early 20th centuries. Contemporary Traditionals and Colonial Revivals built between the late 20th century and the present date are also common, but tend to be located outside of downtown. Developing communities in Goose Creek and McEwen feature newly built Craftsman designs. Berry Farms, a development on the southern end of town, will be a master-planned community with a mix of both single-family and multifamily homes, retail space and offices.
Most homes in Franklin sit on quarter and half-acre lots, but some in Berrys Chapel and West Harpeth feature more private multi-acre properties. Single-family homes here feature footprints from as small as 1,500 square feet to as large as 5,000 square feet and cost between $600,000 and $1.3 million. Townhouses mainly run between $400,000 and $1 million, while condos primarily cost between $250,000 and $700,000.
You can enjoy the wooded lots in Franklin Tennessee.
There are mostly older craftsman-style homes in the Downtown Franklin Neighborhood
There are larger townhomes located throughout Franklin.
Most of the homes in the Downtown Franklin Neighborhood are older historic homes.
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Downtown boutiques and The Factory at Franklin
Franklin has a few distinct shopping and dining districts. Anchored by Main Street, the historic and easily walkable downtown area features rows of vintage brick buildings with quaint storefronts housing bakeries, brunch spots, bars, boutiques and brand-name apparel stores. One of the newest editions is the Amendment XVIII Cocktail Club, a speakeasy with a back-alley doorway.
The Factory at Franklin is another destination for shopping and dining. Housed in a former stove factory, this converted site now houses over 10 restaurants, a movie theater and space for large events and conferences.
For big box retailers and grocery stores, the densely packed CoolSprings Galleria sits on the northern edge of town.
There is plenty of shopping at the Franklin Factory.
Grays Restaurant in the Downtown Franklin Neighborhood is a popular place for locals.
There are several cafes and shops in The Factory in Franklin.
The White Alligator has authentic Louisiana Food and Cocktails.
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Remembering local history and holiday festivals on the Square
Downtown Franklin is one of the city’s main attractions and Main Street is regularly bustling with pedestrians. In addition to stopping by the shops and restaurants, visitors can explore the Franklin Public Square and its diverse monuments. The square is also the place for several celebrations, ranging from a 'Christmas Carol'-themed Dickens of a Christmas Festival. “You’ll have people dressed in time-appropriate things walking down the street,” Potter says. Other major events include the Christmas Tree Lighting on the Square, the PumpkinFest Fall Festival and the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival.
Carolers sing Christmas songs at the Dickens of a Christmas festival in Downtown Franklin.
You can visit several Confederate cemeteries in Franklin.
Franklin is home to The Battle of Franklin during the Civil War.
The Fort Granger Park historical plaque and overlook.
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Enjoy the green space at Franklin’s ‘Central Park’
Franklin has about 1,000 acres of parkland, nearly a quarter of which is made up by the Park at Harlinsdale Farm near downtown. “We call it our ‘Central Park,’” Moore says. At the park, visitors and residents alike can enjoy views of rolling farmland as they walk along a 3-mile turf track. The site also has a 4-acre dog park, a catch-and-release fishing pond and equestrian trails.
In the Carnton neighborhood, the 110-acre Eastern Flank Battle Field Park sits on the grounds of the Battle of Franklin. The open-air park features a trail and historical markers and hosts various special occasions during the year. The park also neighbors Carnton property, a historic Colonial and Greek-style house and an important site during the Battle of Franklin.
The city will also soon enjoy the New Southeastern Municipal Complex Park. The multi-purpose park will feature various amenities, including basketball and sand volleyball courts and a bowling lawn.
Natchez Trace Parkway bridge is located in Franklin.
People on alking their dog in the park in Harlinsdale Farm in the Downtown Franklin Neighborhood
Jim Warren Park Near the Downtown Franklin Neighborhood is a great place to hang out.
The Park at Harlinsdale Farm is a large equestrian park.
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Highly rated Williamson County Schools and entrepreneurship program
Williamson County Schools serves nearly 42,000 students and the ratings site Niche gives the district an A grade for performance and also ranks the district as the best in the Nashville metro. Each of the elementary schools in the Williamson County School District earns a Niche grade of A-minus or higher, and none of the district’s schools have below a B-minus rating.
Franklin High School gets an A from Niche, which also ranks it among the 20 best college prep public high schools in the state. Franklin High is the site of the district’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, where students in Grade 10 through Grade 12 can workshop business ideas and gain experience in hopes of launching a product or service. The various professionals who serve as mentors to the students include marketing specialists and lawyers.
Centennial High School front entrance
The front entrance to Franklin Elementary in Downtown Franklin.
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Hub for health care, automakers and co-working spaces
Franklin is the headquarters of the Williamson County Schools district, which is by far the county’s largest employer here, providing jobs for more than 7,000 workers. A small health care hub, Franklin is also the headquarters for Williamson Health and Community Health Systems, which both employ about 2,000 people in the county. The Williamson Medical Center is Franklin’s main health care facility.
Automakers Nissan and Mitsubishi put their North American headquarters in Franklin’s CoolSprings district. California-based In-N-Out Burger, a popular West Coast chain, chose Franklin as the site of its eastern territory office and plans to open a Nashville area location in 2026.
Unlike some of the Nashville metro’s other suburban cities, Franklin provides its own public transportation through tis Franklin Transit bus system. Many here also drive to get around the region or to commute to and from Nashville. Franklin is approximately 23 miles from downtown Nashville, which many can reach via Interstate 65, and I-65 also intersects with Interstate 840, allowing for easy travel east and west.
Mitsubishi HQ is located in Franklin.
Nissan HQ in Franklin, TN, is a key center for innovation in North American operations.
Community Health Systems is one of the largest employers in Franklin.
Williamson Health center is located in Franklin, TN.
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Important to know
Franklin’s crime rates fall well below both the state and national averages. The city’s violent crime rate is 73.5 incidents per 10,000 people, and Franklin’s property crime rate is also less than half that of the rate for all of Tennessee.
Part of Middle Tennessee, Franklin experiences four true seasons with mild winters and warm, humid summers. Extreme weather events typically occur during the spring months and late fall, with tornadoes, in particular, being a risk. Damage from high winds tends to be more common in Franklin than in other parts of Williamson County.
Michael is the Broker and Owner of Hive Nashville, as well as a partner of RAM Property Management. Michael has spent years building his business to cater specifically to investors. During that time, Michael has participated in almost every aspect of the real estate industry imaginable. As a real estate investor himself, Michael has personally owned, rented, flipped and developed real estate across the Southern United States. Due to their overwhelming success in the real estate market, Michael and his wife Amy were one of the three teams featured on HGTV’s Flipping Showdown. Michael provides real estate broker expertise and insight to help our business meet the needs of our clients. Michael also assists our clients in evaluating property values, selling investment properties, and buying new ones that meet our client’s investment criteria. Michael and Amy reside in the Middle Tennessee area with their three children.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
