Neighborhood Guide
Living in Franklin, Tennessee
A historic Main Street, the Cool Springs office and retail hub, and open countryside at its edges, about 17 miles south of Nashville.
By Brian Barnes, REALTOR®, TN Real Estate Group. I live in Franklin. Updated October 2026.
Franklin at a glance
| County | Williamson County (county seat) |
|---|---|
| Median listing price, Williamson County | $1,155,000 (September 2026) |
| State income tax on wages | None |
| Sales tax | 9.75 percent; 6.75 percent on groceries |
| Public schools | Williamson County Schools; Franklin Special School District (through grade 8) |
| Property tax, 2026 | $1.596 per $100 assessed outside the special school district; residential assessed at 25 percent |
| Distance to Nashville | About 17 miles |
Sources: Realtor.com via FRED, read October 8, 2026; Tennessee Department of Revenue; Williamson County and City of Franklin FY 2026 to 2027 budgets; Tennessee Comptroller; Visit Franklin.
What it is like to live here
Franklin is the seat of Williamson County, and its center of gravity is Main Street. Downtown has brick sidewalks, a long run of Victorian storefronts, and an accredited Main Street America program, with restaurants, shops, and a calendar of festivals within a few walkable blocks.
Northeast of downtown, Cool Springs is the city's office and retail hub, anchored by the Cool Springs Galleria.
History is close at hand. The Battle of Franklin was fought here on November 30, 1864, and the Carnton plantation, used as a field hospital, is now open to visitors. The Harpeth River runs through town, with parks and greenways along its banks.
Areas within Franklin
- Downtown and the historic district. Older homes on tree lined streets within walking distance of Main Street. Lots and houses vary widely, so pricing is home by home.
- Westhaven. A planned community on Franklin's west side of about 1,500 acres, with roughly half set aside for parks, green space, and trails, plus a village center, a golf club, and a public elementary school inside the neighborhood.
- Cool Springs and east Franklin. Established subdivisions close to the Galleria, offices, and Interstate 65.
- Toward the countryside. Larger lots as the city gives way to farmland on its edges.
Just outside the city, Leiper's Fork is an unincorporated village with rolling farmland and a small village center, and Brentwood sits to the north with larger lots and the Maryland Farms office district.
Sources: Downtown Franklin Association; Southern Land Company, October 2023; Visit Franklin.
Schools
Franklin addresses fall in one of two public districts. Williamson County Schools posted the highest overall TCAP proficiency of any Tennessee district for 2025 to 2026, at 73.9 percent. Much of the city of Franklin is in the Franklin Special School District through eighth grade; its students continue to Williamson County Schools high schools, Franklin High and Centennial High.
School zoning is set by address and can change. I confirm it for every home before you tour.
Sources: Tennessee Department of Education, July 2026; Williamson County Schools; WSMV, July 15, 2026; Franklin Special School District.
Property taxes in Franklin
Tennessee assesses homes at 25 percent of appraised value. In 2026, a Franklin address outside the Franklin Special School District pays the Williamson County rate of $1.30 plus the City of Franklin rate of $0.296, for $1.596 per $100 of assessed value. On a home appraised at $1 million, that is about $3,990 a year. Addresses inside the special school district carry an additional district levy, so I confirm the exact figure for every home.
Sources: Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, 2025 Tax Aggregate Report; Williamson County Commission, June 18, 2026; City of Franklin, June 9, 2026.
Questions I hear most
How far is Franklin from Nashville?
About 17 miles south. Drive times depend heavily on traffic, so I map them from each home at the hours you will actually drive.
Which school district is a Franklin home in?
It depends on the address. Much of the city is in the Franklin Special School District through eighth grade, then Williamson County Schools for high school. The rest of Franklin is in Williamson County Schools for every grade. I confirm zoning for every home.
What does a home in Franklin cost?
The median listing price in Williamson County was $1,155,000 in September 2026. That median blends condos, townhomes, and estates; I provide neighborhood level sold data in The Relocation Brief.
Why did you choose Franklin?
Because it felt like home the second time around. I grew up in Nashville, came home in 2015 after a decade away, and learned the area again as a newcomer. That is why every client gets a written Relocation Brief before the first tour.
See where you would fit
Tell me what matters most, and I will show you where I would look in and around Franklin.
Moving from the West Coast? Read Moving from California to Franklin.