Thompson's Station and Franklin sit about 9 road miles apart on Columbia Pike, and both are in Williamson County. From the road they can look like one place. They aren't. The town line changes your property tax bill, who picks up your trash, who answers a 911 call and, in parts of Franklin, which school district you're in.
I live in Thompson's Station and sell homes in both. Here's how the two compare on the things that actually show up in your monthly budget and your daily drive.
The Short Version
| Thompson's Station | Franklin | |
|---|---|---|
| Town or city property tax (2025) | $0.103 per $100 assessed | $0.296 per $100 assessed |
| County rate on top | $1.30 | $1.27, or $1.18 plus the Franklin Special School District's $0.5873 |
| Who collects it | Williamson County Trustee, one bill | Williamson County Trustee, one bill |
| Police | Williamson County Sheriff's Office | Franklin Police Department |
| Trash | Not provided by the Town; ask the HOA | City of Franklin, $33 a month (going to $34 in FY27) |
| Sewer | Town sewer for specific subdivisions; others may be septic | City of Franklin for addresses on city service |
| Population | 9,469 (Census estimate, July 2025) | 90,226 (Census estimate, July 2025) |
Property Tax: Closer Than People Think
Both towns are billed by the Williamson County Trustee, so you get one bill either way. Thompson's Station's town rate is $0.103 per $100 of assessed value, on top of the county's $1.30. Franklin's city rate is $0.296, and the county portion inside Franklin is $1.27, or $1.18 plus $0.5873 if the address is in the Franklin Special School District, which levies its own tax.
Tennessee assesses a home at 25% of its appraised value. On a $500,000 appraisal, that's $125,000 assessed, and the 2025 rates work out to about:
- Thompson's Station: $1,754 a year
- Franklin, outside the Franklin Special School District: $1,958 a year
- Franklin, inside the Franklin Special School District: $2,579 a year
That's my arithmetic from the county's 2025 rate chart, so treat it as an example and check the actual bill on any house. More in my Franklin cost of living guide.
Schools
Thompson's Station is entirely in the Williamson County Schools district, and zones change from one neighborhood to the next: some addresses go to the Heritage schools, some to Thompson's Station Elementary and Middle, and some to Winstead and Legacy in Franklin. High school can be Independence or Summit.
Part of Franklin is in the Franklin Special School District, which runs eight schools for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The rest of Franklin, and every Franklin high schooler, is Williamson County Schools. On any house in either town, I pull the zoning before you write an offer.
Utilities and Services
In Thompson's Station, water comes from the H.B. & T.S. Utility District, the Town runs its own sewer system for specific subdivisions, and other homes may be on septic or another provider. The Town doesn't pick up trash. Franklin bills water, sewer, trash and stormwater for addresses on city service, and runs its own police and fire departments. Thompson's Station relies on the Williamson County Sheriff's Office and Williamson County Fire/Rescue.
Drive Times
Road miles with no traffic, so add time at rush hour:
| To | From Thompson's Station Town Hall | From Franklin's Public Square |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Nashville (State Capitol) | 30 miles, about 39 minutes | 22 miles, about 30 minutes |
| Nashville airport (BNA) | 33 miles, about 41 minutes | 25 miles, about 32 minutes |
| CoolSprings Galleria | 15 miles, about 21 minutes | 5 miles, about 10 minutes |
Between the two towns it's about 9 to 10 road miles, roughly 15 minutes. More in my Thompson's Station commute guide.
Daily Life
Franklin has the historic downtown, CoolSprings Galleria and the big-box shopping. Thompson's Station is mostly residential, with open land around it: Preservation Park is about 200 acres held mostly in a land trust with the State of Tennessee, and the Tollgate Village Town Center has restaurants, coffee and shops. For a big grocery trip or a Target run, Thompson's Station residents drive to Spring Hill, about 5 miles south, or Franklin. Simon Property Group has proposed Sagefield, a mixed-use center at 1733 Lewisburg Pike in Thompson's Station; watch the Town's approvals on that one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thompson's Station part of Franklin?
No. It's its own town, the Town of Thompson's Station, with its own government, south of Franklin in Williamson County.
Are property taxes lower in Thompson's Station than in Franklin?
Usually, yes. For 2025 the town rate is $0.103 per $100 of assessed value versus Franklin's $0.296, and the county portion differs too. Check the actual bill on any house.
Does Thompson's Station have its own property tax?
Yes, a small one: $0.103 per $100 of assessed value for 2025, collected with the county tax by the Williamson County Trustee.
Do Thompson's Station and Franklin use the same school district?
Thompson's Station is all Williamson County Schools. Part of Franklin is in the Franklin Special School District for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade; the rest of Franklin, and every Franklin high schooler, is Williamson County Schools.
How far is Thompson's Station from Franklin?
About 9 to 10 road miles, roughly 15 minutes without traffic.
Which is closer to Nashville?
Franklin. From the Public Square it's about 22 road miles to the State Capitol; from Thompson's Station Town Hall it's about 30.
Is it Thompson Station or Thompson's Station?
Same place. The official name is the Town of Thompson's Station, and many people search it as Thompson Station or Thompsons Station.
Weighing a house in each town? Send me both addresses and I'll lay out the tax bill, the school zone and the drive side by side. DM, text, or call me at 615-392-1186.
Check out this article next
