A country town in the middle of nowhere but close to everything
Seafood shacks and shipyards may be familiar sights in coastal New England, but in Franklin, a rural town between Norwich and Willimantic, cows and tractors are as commonplace as street signs. “It’s very country,” says Realtor Dale Bunn, owner-partner of Riverview Realty LLC, who’s lived in Norwich since 2002. With a population density of one person per acre of land, it’s easy to see how Bunn can compare living in Franklin to "The Waltons," a ’70s TV show about a multi-generational family living in the mountains. “It’s a laid-back farming community where everyone knows each other,” he says. “It’s like you’re out in the middle of nowhere but close to everything.” Franklin is only 10 miles from Downtown Norwich and even less from Willimantic. “In Franklin, stress and traffic are not issues,” says Realtor Don Miller with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England. Miller wound up in Connecticut after his time in the U.S. Navy and has been selling homes in the area for the past 17 years. “It’s very picturesque and a cool place to raise a family. Just make sure you have a cornhole set. It’s a big deal here.”
Suburban homes line rural routes in Franklin
While one might think homes in Franklin are limited to older farmhouses, most are suburban homes on half an acre or more of land. Ranch-style houses are the most common, often featuring attached garages and open floor plans; they list for between $300,000 and $450,000. Raised ranches are another popular variety, priced similarly. Colonials, some built in the 1800s, are usually roomier, with four or more bedrooms for larger families, and sell for $350,000 to $500,000. Farmhouses with large acreages also make it on the market, many with multiple buildings and stables, pastures and paddocks for horses. Farm properties are priced between $450,000 and $825,000 in Franklin.
From sports fields to natural preserves and championship golf
The community has access to a playground, basketball hoops, baseball and soccer fields and a running track at Franklin Elementary School. Across Route 207, Giddings Park features more sports facilities, including tennis courts, and Franklin Veteran’s Park next door has a baseball diamond. Farther west off 207, Ayers Gap is a rugged nature preserve where Baily Brook flows over exposed rock outcroppings that create a waterfall and a gorge known as Bailey’s Ravine. Sprague Land Preserve is a vast property encompassing tributaries of the Shetucket River. Visitors can explore the 11 miles of hiking trails on foot or mountain bike. The preserve is next to the Mohegan Sun Golf Club, part of the Mohegan Sun Casino south of Norwich. The club offers military rates on its championship course, a pro shop and an on-site restaurant.
Small-town shopping and attractions in Franklin
Restaurants in Franklin are scattered across Route 32, the Franklin Turnpike. At the southern end, Emely’s Pizza serves more than Italian pies. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers dishes that cover all three, including Mexican food. The Ashbel Woodward Museum is just up the road. It is the town’s history repository and sponsors events like Victorian Tea and Historic Sewing: How to Make an 18th-Century Shift. Another local museum is the Blue Slope County Museum, which houses farming and household artifacts from the 17th through the 20th Century. Visitors can also enjoy square dancing on the weekends during the summer. In North Franklin, Meyer’s Crazy Hollow Creamery serves over 20 flavors of ice cream and eight soft-serve varieties, hand-made on the premises. Next door, Egg and Cheese is a small counter-service breakfast and lunch spot where customers can take their food home or sit at picnic tables outside to enjoy their meals. “For more shopping options, you have to head south to Norwich or north to Willimantic,” Miller says. “East Brook Mall has a Big Y World Class Market and a dozen other stores. You can also catch a UCONN Huskies basketball game a little farther north in Storrs.”
A festival and farmers markets in Lebanon
The neighborhood town of Lebanon, only 7 miles west of Franklin, hosts the Connecticut Renaissance Faire, a 16th-century harvest festival that takes place on weekends from the end of August through October. Lebanon also hosts a farmers market at the town green on Saturday mornings from June to October. Over 20 vendors participate in the market, and a changing list of local musicians perform.
Above-average educational choices in Franklin
The schools that serve Franklin include Franklin Elementary, a PK-8 school that received a B-plus from Niche. In 2020, Franklin Elementary received a School of Distinction honor from Connecticut’s Department of Education for improved math skills. With no local high school, Franklin students can choose from several area public and private schools, such as Norwich Technical High School, B-rated by Niche, which enrolls nearly 700 students from 48 towns and offers career preparation in graphic design and digital media, health technology, carpentry, biotechnology and several other fields.
Public transit near Franklin
Because Franklin is mostly rural, residents need a car to get around. The closest Amtrak station is in New London, 20 miles south, and the closest airports are Bradley International Airport in Hartford and Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Providence, both 50 miles away. Route 32 is the main road that runs north-south through Franklin, which connects with Route 2 and Interstate 395 south of town in Norwich and South Windham and Willimantic to the north.
Franklin flooding risk and crime score
Homes in Franklin are most susceptible to flooding the closer they are to brooks and ponds that cut through the town. Most areas where flooding occurs are undeveloped, although parts of Route 32 near Cold Brook in the northern part of town can see mild flooding and Pond Drive in the middle of town is bordered by Gagers Pond, Beaver Brook and Bailey Brook, all of which can produce flooding. On the other hand, Franklin receives a crime score of 1 out of 10 from CAP Index, the lowest possible score. The national average is 4.
Written By
Christopher Kopczynski
Photography Contributed By
Matt Barrett
