What are the schools like in Canton, NC?

Canton is served primarily by Haywood County Schools. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.8:1.

What is the median household income in Canton?

The median household income in Canton, NC is $54,728 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.0%.

What is the weather like in Canton, NC?

Canton has an average high temperature of 46.6°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.9 inches.

Canton, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Canton, NC affordable or expensive?

Canton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Canton is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $192,400 and the median rent is $836 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Canton, NC?

Canton has a violent crime rate of 158.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1879.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Canton, NC a Good Place to Live?

Canton is a small town of 4,410 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $54,728 and a 1.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Canton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Canton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Canton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.1

Canton's overall cost of living index is 96.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Canton costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Canton, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$192,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$836	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,728	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Canton's violent crime rate is 158.5 per 100,000 residents — 58% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

158.5 /100k

Property Crime

1879.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Canton is served primarily by Haywood County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Canton, NC	National Avg
School District	Haywood County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Canton sees average highs of 46.6°F in January and 81.5°F in July, with 46.0 inches of annual precipitation and 10.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Canton, NC
Average High — January	46.6°F
Average High — July	81.5°F
Annual Precipitation	46.0"
Annual Snowfall	10.9"

Demographics

Metric	Canton, NC	National Avg
Population	4,410	—
Median Age	36.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	19.4%	22.2%
65 and over	16.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

West Canton, NC 1 mi Clyde, NC 4 mi Lake Junaluska, NC 7 mi Waynesville, NC 9 mi Bent Creek, NC 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Canton

Canton, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28716

Canton vs Other Cities

Canton, NC vs West Canton, NC Canton, NC vs Clyde, NC Canton, NC vs Lake Junaluska, NC Canton, NC vs Waynesville, NC Canton, NC vs Bent Creek, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Canton, NC affordable or expensive?

Canton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Canton roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $192,400 and median rent is $836/month.

What is the crime rate in Canton, NC?

Canton's violent crime rate is 158.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1879.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Canton?

Public schools in Canton are operated by Haywood County Schools. The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Canton, NC a good place to live?

Canton, NC has a population of 4,410, a median household income of $54,728, and an unemployment rate of 1.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Canton?

Canton averages 46.6°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.0 inches with about 10.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Canton?

Canton, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28716.

What is the population of Canton?

The population of Canton, North Carolina is 4,410 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Canton?

Key numbers for living in Canton: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $192,400, median household income $54,728, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Canton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.