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Iowa

Cost of living in Franklin County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,726/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 9,977 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $668 25%
Federal tax $523 19%
Healthcare $480 18%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $315 12%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $175 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Franklin County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$646
per month
1 bedroom
$668
per month
2 bedroom
$877
per month
3 bedroom
$1,158
per month
4 bedroom
$1,450
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Franklin County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$63,648
per year
Individual earnings
$42,035
per year
Per capita
$32,451
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Franklin County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$118,500
Annual property tax
$1,597

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Franklin County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$134
per month · 15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,340
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Franklin County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
10.7%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Franklin County

State and local tax rates for Iowa.

State income tax
5.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.9%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Franklin County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
19.6 min
Drive alone
78.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
6.9%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Franklin County

What it costs to live in Franklin County each month.

Single person
$2,726
per month
  • Rent $668
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $523
  • State tax $175
Couple
$3,966
per month
  • Rent $877
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $712
  • State tax $277
Family
$6,371
per month
  • Rent $1,158
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $712
  • State tax $277

Frequently asked questions about Franklin County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Franklin County?

In Franklin County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $668 per month, a two-bedroom averages $877 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,158 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Franklin County?

In Franklin County, IA, the average household income is $63,648 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $42,035 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Franklin County?

The estimated cost of living in Franklin County, IA is approximately $2,726 per month for a single person, $3,966 for a couple, $6,371 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Franklin County?

The combined sales tax rate in Franklin County, IA is 6.94%, which includes the Iowa state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.94%.

Is Franklin County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Franklin County, IA would need approximately $2,726 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $63,648 per year ($5,304 per month). Franklin County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Franklin County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Franklin County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 10.7% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Franklin County?

The average home value in Franklin County, IA is $118,500, with average annual property taxes of $1,597, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Franklin County compare to other areas?

You can compare Franklin County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Franklin County is in Iowa.

Other counties in Iowa

Browse the full list of counties in Iowa, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Franklin County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources