Franklin County, Massachusetts

Voter registration

Climate

The climate in Franklin County is typically cool temperate. The area is also somewhat maritime, with relatively high year-round precipitation. Summers are warm and humid with frequent evening storms, and winters are cool to cold with frequent snow and subfreezing (below 31 °F) temperatures.

Protected areas

• Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Paul C. Jones Working Forest (privately owned with conservation easement) around Brushy Mountain, Shutesbury^[10]

Various Department of Conservation & Recreation properties.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 71,029. Of the residents, 17.2% were under the age of 18 and 23.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 47.0 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males. 45.1% of residents lived in urban areas and 54.9% lived in rural areas.^[17][18][19]

The racial makeup of the county was 87.8% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.9% from some other race, and 6.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.1% of the population.^[19]

There were 31,323 households in the county, of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[18]

There were 34,345 housing units, of which 8.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.0% were owner-occupied and 32.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.^[18]

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 71,372 people, 30,462 households, and 18,317 families in the county.^[23] The population density was 102.1 inhabitants per square mile (39.4/km²). There were 33,758 housing units at an average density of 48.3 per square mile (18.6/km²).^[24] The racial makeup of the county was 94.2% white, 1.3% Asian, 1.1% black, 0.3% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.2% of the population.^[23] The largest ancestry groups were:^[25]

Of the 30,462 households, 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.9% were non-families, and 30.5% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 44.2 years.^[23]

The median household income was $52,002 and the median family income was $65,760. Males had a median income of $45,480 versus $37,309 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,544. About 7.7% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.^[26]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families in the county. The population density was 102 inhabitants per square mile (39/km²). There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile (18/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.40% White, 0.89% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 1.99%.^[27] were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.2% were of English, 12.2% Irish, 12.0% Polish, 10.2% French, 7.0% French Canadian, 6.7% German, 6.1% Italian and 6.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000. Most of those claiming to be of "American" ancestry are actually of English descent, but have family that has been in the country for so long, in many cases since the early seventeenth century that they choose to identify simply as "American".^{[28][29][30][31][32]} 94.5% spoke English and 1.8% Spanish as their first language.

Of the 29,466 households 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 29.0% of households were one person and 10.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median household income was $40,768 and the median family income was $50,915. Males had a median income of $36,350 versus $27,228 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,672. About 6.5% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Demographic breakdown by town

Major highways

• I-91
• US 5
• US 202
• Route 2
• Route 2A
• Route 8A
• Route 10
• Route 47
• Route 63
• Route 78
• Route 112
• Route 116
• Route 122

City

• Greenfield (traditional county seat)

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

• Lake Pleasant
• Satans Kingdom
• Zoar