Franklin, TN downtown

2021 Top 100 Best Places to Live In America Sponsored by:

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

liv score
720
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 80
Demographics 49
Economy 43
Education 65
Health 70
Housing 60
Infrastructure 49

#16. Franklin, TN

Franklin, TN offers the best kind of juxtaposition: It has a quaint and charming downtown and preserved historical sites, yet is an innovative city with a burgeoning tech scene. Home to several health care companies, Franklin is also a haven for health care. Residents quickly discover that this historic city is a fun place to live, with festivals to celebrate every season, from Fourth of July in summer, PumpkinFest in October and the beloved Dickens of a Christmas festival in December. 

Top Colleges/Universities: Columbia State Community College – Williamson Campus

Top Industries & Employers: Manufacturing, health care and tech are significant economic drivers. Major corporations, including Nissan and Mars Petcare, have headquarters in Franklin

Weekend Plans: Considered “Nashville’s Wine Country,” Arrington Vineyards has Food Truck Fridays and live music on the weekends in addition to wine tastings. 

Favorite Place to Feast: Red Pony, which has a sophisticated Southern menu, is loved by locals. 

Beloved Beverage: Hop House Tennessee Taps offers rotating taps of brews from Tennessee and neighboring states. 

Outdoorsy Activity: Find a fun new hobby at Liberty Park, an 85-acre park with a 10-hole disc golf course tucked in the woods. 

Rooftop Bar: While technically not a rooftop bar, JJ’s Wine Bar is the perfect spot to drink alfresco. Housed in a historic home in the heart of downtown Franklin, this upscale spot has nearly 30 different wines on tap and local art available for purchase. 

Why Your Pet Will Love It, Too: Franklin was a pilot city for Mars Petcare’s “Better Cities for Pets” initiative to make the city a pet-friendly destination. Franklin has several Fido-friendly merchants with a shared pet code of conduct as well as waste stations throughout downtown. 

Remote Work Perk: Enjoy a coffee break or happy hour at Curio Brewing Company, a coffee shop and brewery. Curio also hosts yoga, trivia, live music and more so you can meet new friends or network.

One More Thing … The city was named after Benjamin Franklin and was established in 1799. 

– Brittany Anas

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