About one in 10 people in Franklin County, Washington, has a disability
In Franklin County, 10.5% of people reported a disability. That is lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives Franklin County's score
In Franklin County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 64.0. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 33.8. People with a car or retail loan behind: 3.5%, August 2025, lower than in 74% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Franklin County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Franklin County is worse off than most counties on unemployment rate, average over the latest year (5.4%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026) and people without health insurance (13.2%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 64.0 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202687th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.2% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
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- 58.0 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent18.8% · 2020 to 202453rd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income21.9% · fiscal year 202762nd percentile
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- 43.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.0% · 202456th percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.4% · 202451st percentile
- People with a disability10.5% · 2020 to 20245th percentile
- People without health insurance13.2% · 2020 to 202483rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,405 · 202418th percentile
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- 39.4 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.2% · August 202527th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people129.2 · 202551st percentile
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- 33.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.7% · August 202536th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.5% · August 202525th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.6% · second quarter of 202639th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Franklin County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Franklin County, 10.4% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Franklin County
Washington
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Franklin County had its largest rise, from 9.8% in 1979 to 13.5% in 1984.
In Franklin County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 20.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Franklin County, Washington, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 20.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Franklin County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 17.8% in 2011 to 20.8% in 2012.
The share of households in Franklin County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen to 18.8%
Low on the chart: 15.4% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Franklin County, Washington.
How Franklin County has changed
Franklin County's population had its largest rise, from 58,165 in 2004 to 74,478 in 2009.
Franklin County's population grew to about four times its 1969 size in 2024, reaching 101,238, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1984 to 1989, reaching 36,833. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Franklin County, Washington.
The number of jobs located in Franklin County had its largest rise, from 23,792 in 2005 to 28,934 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Franklin County doubled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 37,938, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2015 to 2020, reaching 33,613. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Franklin County, Washington.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 10.4% | 2025 5.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 21.0% | 2024 14.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,334 | 2024 $81,405 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Franklin County's history
2017
A flood in February 2017 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 96,749, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2020
A thunderstorm in May 2020 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1977
11 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Franklin County, 4 of them for flooding. FEMA
Franklin County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Franklin County, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Franklin County ranks 5th of the seven; Columbia County is highest, at 33.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County, WA | 68 | 14.4% | 23.3% |
| Grant County, WA | 62 | 16.8% | 25.2% |
| Columbia County, WA | 52 | 12.4% | 33.5% |
| Franklin County, WA | 46 | 14.0% | 20.9% |
| Walla Walla County, WA | 39 | 13.0% | 25.5% |
| Benton County, WA | 39 | 10.6% | 20.3% |
| Whitman County, WA | 38 | 23.0% | 19.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Franklin County the poorest county in Washington?
No, Franklin County's poverty rate was 14.0% in 2024, 9th highest of 39 in Washington (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Whitman County, at 23.0%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Franklin County ranks 14th of 39 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Franklin County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Northwest Justice Project (NJP)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Franklin County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Franklin County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.