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Williamson County

Franklin

Williamson County's seat: a 16-block historic downtown, the Cool Springs business district, and the county's widest range of homes.

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Downtown

The Downtown Franklin Historic District, on the National Register since 1972, covers about 16 blocks around the Public Square where Main Street meets Third Avenue, with more than 300 commercial and residential buildings. Main Street is the center of the town's calendar: the Main Street Festival in April, Pumpkinfest in late October and Dickens of a Christmas in December, all produced by the Downtown Franklin Association.

Parks and the outdoors

  • Pinkerton Park, with a one-mile trail up to Fort Granger.
  • The Park at Harlinsdale Farm, a former horse farm on the National Register.
  • Eastern Flank Battlefield Park, next to Carnton, with a two-mile trail.
  • Bicentennial Park and the greenway along the Harpeth River.

Getting around

I-65 runs along Franklin's east side with exits at Peytonsville Road, SR-96, McEwen Drive, Cool Springs Boulevard and Moores Lane. I-840 crosses the south end of the city, and US-31 (Columbia Avenue and Franklin Road) and US-431 run through it. Cool Springs, on the city's east side, is one of the region's largest office and retail districts.

Homes

Historic homes in and around the downtown district, and a wide range of subdivisions, many with HOAs, across the rest of the city. Ask about HOA dues and rules early; they vary a lot.

Utilities

Electric service is mostly Middle Tennessee Electric. Water and sewer come from the City of Franklin or one of several utility districts depending on the address (Milcrofton, H.B.&T.S. and others), so confirm by address.

Questions people ask

Why do two Franklin homes at the same price have different tax bills?

Part of Franklin is inside the Franklin Special School District, which levies its own tax. For 2026 the total rate is 2.2433 per $100 assessed inside the district and 1.566 outside it. On a $750,000 home that is roughly $4,206 versus $2,936 a year. Confirm a specific address with the assessor and the district.

Which schools serve a Franklin address?

It depends on the address. Franklin Special School District covers pre-K through 8th grade inside its boundary; Williamson County Schools serves high school and everything outside that boundary. Check zoning with each district before you write an offer.