Franklin, TN is not a town that everyone knows about like some of the biggest cities in America. Rather, it is its own unique place that some people are finally getting around to noticing. Fortunately, we have the scoop on Franklin, TN as well as towns that are similar to it. If you want a list of some of the most ideal and underappreciated places in America, then you have come to the right place.
About Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, TN is a town with a population of just over 83,000 people as of the 2020 census, but it is growing rapidly. That number is up by about 33% in the last ten years alone as many people rush into this place given it proximity to Nashville and the wonderful amenities that it has to offer.
Many of the top employers in Franklin are all in the healthcare industry as the town has built much of its economy on that booming field. However, there are also jobs to be at the Nissan automobile plant, at the Mars Petcare plant, and with the famous Ramsey Solutions financial advice company. Therefore, it provides a diverse space for people to live and work. You might want to check them out if you are looking for the ideal space to set down some roots.
If Franklin doesn’t work for you for some reason, we have some examples of other cities and towns that are similar to this area. Some are in the nearby area, but others are in entirely different states. We hope that this list will provide you with some excellent choices for where you might want to live and work if Franklin, TN has proven to be attractive to you.
1. Maysville, Kentucky
The beautiful thing about Maysville, KY that so many are attracted to is its old-timey architecture. You will feel like you have stepped back in time when you take a tour of all that you can see in Maysville, KY, and you will love the fact that it is right on the line between Kentucky and Ohio. If there are additional things that you need to do or see in Ohio, you can easily access them from Maysville, KY.
A few quick facts to know about Maysville:
- Small population at just 8,873
- Has Amtrak service connections to the city
- Has a public and private school system
- Has two main radio stations in the area
Maysville, KY is very quaint, to say the least. They are proud of what they have, but they know that they are much smaller than many other cities and towns. However, that small size also means that they keep their cost of living under control. Their cost of living score comes in at 78.8 compared to the more expensive average in Kentucky of 83.6. Thus, you can live here for less than you would many other places.
2. Murfreesboro, Tennessee
If you would like a city in the same general area as Franklin but with a somewhat bigger population, then your best bet is Murfreesoboro, TN. It was ranked in the top 100 cities with a population of over 100,000 for growth in the last ten years. Currently, the population of Murfreesboro sits at 152,769 as of the 2020 census, but it is growing very rapidly. Many people are moving in as a way to have close access to the city of Nashville.
There is a lot happening in Nashville right now, and people want to live somewhere that isn’t quite as expensive but still remains close. Murfreesboro is a college town as it is the home of Middle Tennessee State University, and that is also one of its major employers.
A few other facts about Murfreesboro include:
- It is the geographic center of Tennessee
- It has a major impact on the music and film production industries
- Cost of living is less than living in Nashville itself
3. Cleveland, Mississippi
Hopping back to small-town America again, we turn our attention to Cleveland, MS with a population of just over 11,000.
People like this town because it has a calm nature about it. There is a specific emphasis on Blue’s music that made much of Mississippi so famous to so many people, but it is not an overcrowded place or the kind of place that draws in a lot of tourists. Thus, you can enjoy the Blue’s music culture of this town without being smothered and overwhelmed by everyone else who wants to do the same.
4. Apex, North Carolina
Apex features a population of about 58,000, so it is right in the middle of the types of towns that we have looked at thus far. It is a little smaller than Franklin, TN by population, but many contend that it has a lot more spirit to it. You can just take a look at the vibrantly painted downtown Apex buildings to get that sense about them.
Dell Computers decided that this would be a good place to have one of its offices, and the company employs approximately 500 people in the Apex area.
There are two public high schools in the area that have an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students total. Those schools are:
- Apex High School
- Apex Friendship High School
The town has a lot of local pride in their schools and in their culture. It is a wonderful blend of small-town feel that still provides you with all of the amenities that you could ever need. Unfortunately, this has made the cost of living in Apex rather high with the median home price currently sitting at $445,400.
5. Gruene, Texas
This is not so much a town as it is an area of Texas where people reside. This one is a bit different from Franklin, TN to be fair because the population of this rather unorganized area is not lined up like Franklin or many other towns on this list. However, if you truly want to get yourself off the map, Gruene, TX is the place to do it.
It was in the 1970’s that people began to work on the revival of this area. It had been abandoned in the past for many decades, but there are almost always people who want to save and preserve certain areas that matter to them, and that is how Gruene got the attention of those who decided to bring it back to life. This may be the ideal place to buy property cheaply now in the hopes that it will continue to grow and perhaps one day look something like what Franklin, TN does today.
6. Port Townsend, Washington
Way on the other side of the country is a town that bears some resemblance to Franklin, TN. It is only fair that we include at least one place that is quite far away from Franklin for those who would like to live in a place like this, but who can’t get themselves all the way to Tennessee.
Port Townsend has a population of about 10,000 and the main employer is a paper mill known simply as the Port Townsend paper mill. However, the local economy is also built on the following industries:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Transportation
- Lumber
- Tourism
There is some type of job for just about anyone in this town, and it has the kind of amenities that you would want in a small town like this. As with Apex, NC, this has drawn a lot of attention to the area, and it has driven prices up quite a bit. The cost of living score for this area has been driven all the way up to 115.4 on a 100 scale. So, you need to be prepared to pay a lot to enjoy what they have to offer if you are to move there.
7. Tullahoma, Tennessee
Tullahoma, TN is another middle Tennessee town that people say is somewhat similar to Franklin. It has a population of just 18,655, but they have two state institutions of higher learning that are important to the area. They have Motlow Community College and the University of Tennessee Space Institute. It has a small-town feel that people appreciate, and there is something special about getting that kind of setting for many people. They just want to make sure they have what they need as far as amenities are concerned, and Tullahoma, TN provides that to them without question.
8. Abingdon, Virginia
This town is known for two things in particular, and those are high-class theaters and wonderful hiking trails. If you are the type of person who loves to get into the great outdoors for a hike from time to time, then there could hardly be a better combination than the trails and the theaters of Abingdon to give you something to do and enjoy.
Do you want even better news about Abingdon? The cost of living is below the national average! It currently has a score of 86.1 out of 100. This is even better than many other parts of the state of Virginia. Thus, you should perhaps try to get a place in this town before it catches on too much and causes the prices of everything to climb yet again.
9. Oxford, Mississippi
This is the home of Mississippi University (Ole Miss) which is historically known for having both great athletic and academic programs. Oxford is known for its strong tradition of producing some of the great literary talents of our nation, and they are also proud of native-son Eli Manning and his two Super Bowl championships. Eli played his college football at Ole Miss.
You might want to take in Oxford for its historic beauty and for its record of producing great talents of all kinds. You will find it to be surprisingly small given all that it has going for it with a population of just over 25,000 residents. However, that capacity swells quite a bit on a Saturday gameday when Ole Miss plays at home. The stadium can hold over 64,000 cheering fans, so watch out for increases in traffic and congestion during those times.
10. Durham, North Carolina
There is no doubt that a city like Durham is attempting to make a play for young people to come move there. They want to bring in that fresh talent into the workforce, and they have a lot to offer people who are just starting their careers off right now. They can certainly find a lot to love about Durham.
Durham is the home of Duke University, and it is also a great place to sample some of the newest and greatest beers on the market. The city has done a wonderful job of promoting this aspect of its culture to people who might be interested in that kind of thing. It is an increasingly popular hobby with many people, so there is an attraction to this area to be sure.
Despite all that it has going for it, Durham still maintains a community vibe that people appreciate about it. However, the cost of living in Durham is right in line with the national average.
11. Senoia, Georgia
Famous for being like the towns used in scenes from the television show “The Walking Dead”, Senoia brings that quiet Southern town look that many people are after. This is a tiny-town with a population of just over 5,000 people, but it is very close to Atlanta. Therefore, you don’t have to go far when you leave your Senoia home to be at the epicenter of one of the South’s most happening cities. It is a great compromise between small-town living and big-city amenities. It is also the main reason why people draw comparisons between Senoia and Franklin.
12. Cookeville, Tennessee
Want to be close to Nashville, but still have your own distinct city to care about? That is what Franklin does for some people, but you can have that experience at a lower cost when you choose to live in Cookeville, TN.
Cookeville serves as an important hub connecting Middle and East Tennessee together. It has everything that you need, including Tennessee Tech University, but it is also just one hour’s drive away from the bright lights of Nashville. If you want to make the trip into the city famous for country music, it is easy to do so. On the other hand, you can drive in the opposite direction and get to Knoxville, TN in just about 90 minutes.
13. Cleveland, Tennessee
This is another town that is similar to Franklin in that it has its own distinct features, but it is also close to a larger city of importance. In the case of Cleveland, the larger city of importance is Chattanooga, TN. Cleveland serves as a place where people live when they want access to Chattanooga, but they don’t want to pay Chattanooga prices to live there. Fortunately, they can get the features that they are looking for from Chattanooga while still keeping themselves in a cheaper price range.
In a wonderful piece of news for all concerned, the cost of living in Cleveland scores an 82 out of 100, meaning that it is much cheaper than the national average. It is the ideal place to settle down if you don’t want to spend a fortune doing so.
14. Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a beach town in South Carolina that is as famous for its history as anything else. It is the oldest town in South Carolina given that it was established in 1670, and it has a lot of beautiful buildings and history to show for it. You can take a horse-drawn carriage around town to see some of those important landmarks if you are so inclined.
In addition to this, Charleston is known for having amazing food and cultural offerings as well. You do not want to miss out on some of the delicious tasting seafood that they pull directly from the nearby water. Charleston is just slightly higher than the national average for cost of living with a score of 105.6.
15. Bardstown, Kentucky
People say that Bardstown, KY makes them feel like they just walked into an episode of “Gilmore Girls”. It is a town that has a wholesome feeling about it where it seems that nothing can ever go wrong, and that everyone in the town has a specific purpose for what they are doing in life and how they contribute to the community.
You don’t find places like that anywhere in the world much anymore. It seems like most people are out for themselves in most areas, but Bardstown runs against that tide. It is similar to Franklin in that way. You get a sense that the people of the town actually care about each other in a place like this.
When you want to settle down in an area that is similar to Franklin, TN, you have some options. Make sure you consider each one based on its similarity to Franklin, some of the ways that it is different, and how much you can afford to live in these various places. Weigh all of that together and come up with your plan for where you decide you want to move.
Have you ever thought about how many charming towns are out there? I just love the idea of places like Cedarburg, Wisconsin with its cute main street and artsy vibe, or Beaufort, South Carolina, where the coastal beauty and rich history create such a warm community atmosphere.