Franklin County, KS Insulation Payback
Franklin County, KS: what topping up your attic actually costs
Franklin County, Kansas is zone 4 under DOE's climate map (Mixed-Humid), which means a genuine mix of cold winters and humid summers, with neither one dominating the bill. An uninsulated attic there should be built up to R-60. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-60 costs roughly $3,480 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 2.2 years at an estimated $1,586/year saved. That's about as fast as attic paybacks get.
Where the savings come from
The estimated savings split roughly $1,372/year heating, $215/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Franklin County's savings potential beats roughly 59 of them. Within zone 4 specifically, it ranks 62nd of 825 counties by estimated savings. Kansas averages $1,594/year across the counties tracked here; Franklin County comes in 1% lower.
Where these numbers come from
Franklin County's climate figures — 5,130 heating and 1,337 cooling degree days a year — are read from OTTAWA, KS US, 3.8 miles away, NOAA's nearest 1991-2020 normals station. By total degree days, Franklin County sits at the 61th percentile nationally. Franklin County falls in DOE's moisture regime A (humid), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
If the attic isn't bare
A shallower starting point changes the math: with R-11 already down, only the gap to R-49 needs filling, at roughly $2,280 for an estimated $231/year saved (~9.9-year payback). This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Quotes and materials for this job
Actual quotes will vary by attic access, existing debris, and whether the job needs air sealing first. Treat the $3,480 figure above as a planning number for Franklin County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
Nothing here is a guess
Every figure on this page traces to DOE/IECC climate zones and NOAA degree-day normals, documented in the methodology guide. The guide to what R-value actually means explains why R-60 is the target here specifically.