Franconia’s story
Franconia in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →FranconiaMN
A town of 1,817. Home to Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School.
Population
1,817
−5.1% since 2010
Median home value
$432K
Census ACS
Household income
$117K
median
Median age
47.9
years
Jobs based here
118
A commuter town
What makes Franconia stand out
The 2 things Franconia does most differently from other towns.
College town
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School calls Franconia home
College Scorecard · IPEDS
Franconia’s report card
Now in Franconia
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Franconia? Is an A− for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Franconia’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Franconia. Another town gets a different order.
Health
Healthier than 75% of U.S. towns
Franconia tracks Minnesota closely on all 32 CDC measures.
A−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Minnesota
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Ladd Memorial Hospital
4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
66th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Franconia
Most working residents leave Franconia for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Minneapolis (8%), Forest Lake (6%) and St. Paul (6%). Half commute less than 29 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Franconia1%
Minneapolis8%
Forest Lake6%
St. Paul6%
Chisago City5%
29 mi
median commute distance
118
jobs based in Franconia
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Franconia has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 5°, and about 43 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter8–26°
Spring33–55°
Summer58–80°
Fall38–57°
Oct 8
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Outdoors
9% of Franconia is conserved land
8.8 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves.
9%conserved
9%
conserved · 1,832 of 20,309 acres
8.8 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Franconia Sculpture Gardens | 5.1 mi | 42 |
| 2. Franconia Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area | 0.2 mi | 86 |
| 3. Lawrence Creek Scientific and Natural Area | 0.2 mi | 72 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 49% of U.S. communities.
49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Franconia for work
Where Franconia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
118jobs based in Franconia
1%of working residents work in town
29 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Franconia
Unincorporated community in Minnesota, United States
Franconia is an unincorporated community in Franconia Township, Chisago County, Minnesota, United States. The community is located south of Taylors Falls near the junction of State Highway 95 (MN 95) and Franconia Trail. The St. Croix River is nearby. Lawrence Creek flows through the community. Nearby places include Shafer, Taylors Falls, Lindstrom, and Scandia. Franconia is home to the Franconia Sculpture Park at the intersection of Highways 8 and 95. Osceola, Wisconsin is also nearby to the south-southeast.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Elevation
- 705 ft
Franconia’s neighbors
8 towns share a border with Franconia.