Franklin is a small mill city in Merrimack County, sitting at the confluence of the Winnipesaukee and Pemigewasset rivers, where they join to form the Merrimack River. The city's downtown grew up around textile and paper mills powered by the rivers' falls.

Franklin has invested in whitewater recreation along the Winnipesaukee River, including a kayak park built into the old mill infrastructure, alongside a modest downtown of shops and restaurants. The city sits within reach of both the Lakes Region and the Concord area.

Franklin offers some of the most affordable housing in central New Hampshire, a legacy of its industrial decline. The city continues to work through economic challenges common to former mill communities while drawing value-seekers and outdoor recreation fans to its riverfront.