From Downtown Franklin to Westhaven, Fieldstone Farms and more spacious luxury communities, here’s what to know before making a move.
If you are thinking about moving to Franklin, Tennessee, you are probably asking some version of the same three questions we hear from buyers:
What are the best neighborhoods to live in Franklin, TN?
How much does it cost to live in Franklin, TN?
Is Franklin, TN actually a good place to live?
Franklin has become one of the most sought-after places to live in Middle Tennessee, but understanding whether it is right for you takes more than scrolling through homes online.
From Historic Downtown Franklin and established neighborhoods to newer communities, luxury properties, larger lots and neighborhoods built around trails and outdoor amenities, there are many different ways to live in Franklin.
Here is what buyers should know before making a move.
1. What Are the Best Neighborhoods to Live in Franklin, TN?
There is no single best neighborhood in Franklin.
The better question is: What kind of Franklin lifestyle are you looking for?
That answer can take you to very different parts of the city.
If being close to restaurants, shops, coffee and the character of Main Street is important, Historic Downtown Franklin is an obvious place to start. The surrounding area offers historic homes, renovated properties and newer residences while keeping you close to the heart of Franklin.
On the west side, Westhaven offers a different experience. The community combines homes, green spaces, restaurants, businesses and neighborhood amenities, making it appealing to buyers who like having much of their everyday life close to home.
Nearby Fieldstone Farms offers another option for buyers who prefer an established neighborhood. Mature landscaping, sidewalks, walking and biking paths, parks, pools and recreation are woven throughout the community. With more than 2,000 homes across over 800 acres, it is one of Franklin's larger established communities.
For buyers who want newer homes and a lifestyle centered around being outdoors, Ladd Park on the southeast side of Franklin is worth exploring. Walking and biking trails connect sections of the neighborhood with green spaces and community amenities, while the Harpeth River and preserved open space contribute to a more natural setting.
Franklin's east side can be especially interesting for luxury buyers looking for more space.
Communities such as St. Marlo offer larger luxury homes and a more spacious residential setting, giving buyers an alternative to some of Franklin's denser planned communities. For buyers whose wish list includes a larger home, more substantial lot or simply a little more breathing room, expanding the search east of I-65 can uncover options they might otherwise miss.
Other areas around Franklin offer everything from established neighborhoods and newer construction to luxury homes, larger properties and acreage. Cool Springs, McKay's Mill, Berry Farms, Leipers Fork and the broader areas surrounding Franklin can all enter the conversation depending on what a buyer values most.
This is why we encourage relocating buyers not to choose a neighborhood based on a list they found online.
Instead, ask:
Do I want to walk to restaurants and shops?
Do I want neighborhood walking trails and amenities?
Would I rather have a larger yard or more acreage?
Do I want an established neighborhood with mature trees?
Am I looking for a newer home?
Do I want to be close to Downtown Franklin, Cool Springs or I-65?
How frequently will I be going into Nashville?
Those answers can quickly change where you should be looking.
2. How Much Does It Cost to Live in Franklin, TN?
This is one of the most important questions for anyone considering a move to Franklin.
And the answer depends heavily on what you want to buy and where you want to live.
Franklin is not one uniform housing market.
A historic property near Downtown Franklin is very different from a newer home in a planned community. A luxury property with more land on the east or west side of Franklin is different from a home near Cool Springs. And two homes at similar price points can offer very different lot sizes, square footage, ages, finishes and amenities.
That is why we encourage buyers to think beyond a single number.
Instead of asking only, "What is the average home price in Franklin?", ask:
What will my budget actually buy in Franklin?
That is a much more useful question.
Your budget may require you to make choices between location, square footage, lot size, age and amenities.
For one buyer, being close to Downtown Franklin may be worth giving up some space.
Another may prioritize neighborhood amenities and trails in a community such as Westhaven or Ladd Park.
Someone else may want the mature trees and established feel of Fieldstone Farms.
And a luxury buyer may decide that a larger home, more privacy or more land is the priority and focus on areas such as St. Marlo, Leipers Fork or other parts of Franklin and Williamson County.
Understanding those tradeoffs before you begin touring homes makes the search considerably more productive.
It is also why looking at Franklin real estate solely through national real estate websites can be limiting.
Available inventory tells you what is for sale today. It does not always tell you what may be coming soon or what opportunities could exist off-market.
In neighborhoods or price points where the right property does not become available often, relationships can become an important part of the search.
3. Is Franklin, TN a Good Place to Live?
For many buyers, Franklin's appeal comes down to something that is difficult to capture in a spreadsheet: quality of life.
Franklin gives residents access to Nashville while maintaining a distinct identity of its own.
Historic Downtown Franklin is a destination, not simply a business district. Main Street gives residents access to local restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops, entertainment and community events in a walkable setting. Spend a day in Franklin and you quickly begin to understand why the lifestyle is such a big part of its appeal.
But Franklin extends well beyond Main Street.
Outdoor space is part of the lifestyle here. There are parks, trails and greenways throughout Franklin, including Harlinsdale Farm, Pinkerton Park and the Harpeth River Greenway.
That outdoor lifestyle also carries into many of Franklin's residential communities.
In Fieldstone Farms, residents have access to walking and biking paths throughout an established neighborhood with mature landscaping. In Ladd Park, trails, sidewalks, green spaces and the Harpeth River are integrated into the community itself.
Cool Springs adds another dimension with shopping, restaurants, businesses and major employers.
And Nashville is still within reach when you want professional sports, concerts, restaurants, the airport or everything else the city offers.
That combination is a major part of Franklin's appeal.
You can spend Saturday morning walking Main Street, head out for a neighborhood walk or trail in the afternoon, have dinner close to home and still be connected to Nashville when you want to be.
For buyers relocating from larger metropolitan areas, Franklin can offer a different pace without feeling disconnected.
Is Franklin Better Than Nashville?
This is another question buyers often ask, and there really is not a universal answer.
Franklin and Nashville offer different lifestyles.
If being minutes from Downtown Nashville, major entertainment venues and Nashville's urban neighborhoods is the priority, living in Nashville may make more sense.
If you are drawn to Historic Downtown Franklin, more residential space, neighborhood amenities, trails, larger luxury properties and the overall lifestyle of Williamson County, Franklin may be the better fit.
Some buyers know immediately.
Others need to experience both.
We often recommend spending time in the areas you are considering before making the decision. Walk around Downtown Franklin. Drive through Westhaven, Fieldstone Farms, Ladd Park and some of Franklin's more spacious luxury neighborhoods. See how the east and west sides feel different. Drive the routes you would actually take during the week.
A house can look perfect online.
The neighborhood needs to work in real life.
Thinking About Moving to Franklin, TN?
Buying in Franklin is about more than finding a house with the right number of bedrooms.
It is about understanding which part of Franklin fits your lifestyle, what your budget will buy there and which opportunities may not be obvious from an online search.
At The McSquared Group, we help buyers understand Franklin and the Greater Nashville market neighborhood by neighborhood.
Our experience includes both publicly listed and off-market properties, giving our buyers a broader view of what may be possible when the right home is difficult to find.
Considering a move to Franklin or Williamson County? Explore our neighborhoods and discover where you might feel most at home.
