The Town FilesCanton, Kansas
City in McPherson County · population 685 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,200
- Household income
- $70,729
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 36.7
Canton is a city of 685 people in McPherson County, Kansas. The median home is worth $128,200, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Kansas towns, quieter than 92% of Kansas towns, better for families than 75% of Kansas towns.
How Canton ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canton is worth $128,200, close to the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $70,729, which is more affordable than 66% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $925 a month. 88.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,200 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $925 | $815 |
| Median household income | $70,729 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 88.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Canton
| People | Canton | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.0% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 89.2% |
Weather in Canton
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.5 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 15, 1992 about 7.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 5, 2014.
Severe weather in McPherson County since 1996
McPherson County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
| March 5, 2017 | Fire | FM-5170: Highland Hills Fire |
| July 20, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4230: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in McPherson County
McPherson County had 16,413 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,013 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Canton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Canton
1 public school with 177 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton-Galva Jr./Sr. High | 6-12 | 177 | 14.8 |
Towns near Canton
- Galva, KS5.9 mi · 834 people · home $206,700
- Goessel, KS10.6 mi · 556 people · home $103,000
- Hillsboro, KS12.7 mi · 2,732 people · home $120,500
- McPherson, KS12.7 mi · 14,082 people · home $211,700
- Moundridge, KS13.5 mi · 1,974 people · home $177,800
- Hesston, KS17.0 mi · 3,505 people · home $204,800
- Lindsborg, KS18.7 mi · 3,776 people · home $188,000
- Inman, KS21.4 mi · 1,341 people · home $149,000
Canton questions
Is Canton, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canton scores better for retirees than 39% of Kansas towns and quieter than 92%. 10.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Canton?
The median owner-occupied home in Canton is valued at $128,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,729, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $925 a month.
What is the weather like in Canton?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.5 inches of snow.
Does Canton get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 15, 1992. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)