Is Canton, NY a Good Place to Live?
Canton is a small town of 7,245 in New York, with a median household income of $57,639 and a 7.7% 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, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 96.5Canton's overall cost of living index is 96.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Canton costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Canton, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $191,800 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $804 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.6% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $57,639 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeCanton's violent crime rate is 46.4 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Canton is served primarily by CANTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Canton, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | CANTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 11.6:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.7% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 94.8% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Canton sees average highs of 26.9°F in January and 79.6°F in July, with 38.2 inches of annual precipitation and 77.3 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Canton, NY |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 26.9°F |
| Average High — July | 79.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 77.3" |
Demographics
| Metric | Canton, NY | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,245 | — |
| Median Age | 22.4 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 10.7 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 84.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 6.8% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 3.4% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 9.7% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 14.9% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Canton
Canton, NY is covered by 1 ZIP code: