The Town FilesCanton, North Carolina
Town in Haywood County · population 4,422 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $246,700
- Household income
- $69,924
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 36.7
Canton is a town of 4,422 people in Haywood County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $246,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 84% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 70% of North Carolina towns.
How Canton ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canton is worth $246,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $69,924, which is more affordable than 62% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $790 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $790 | $969 |
| Median household income | $69,924 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Canton
| People | Canton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Canton
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 25.0°F. About 45.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on February 18, 1976 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 18, 1976.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 16, 1998.
Severe weather in Haywood County since 1996
Haywood County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Haywood County
Haywood County had 17,496 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,227 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Canton itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Canton
5 public schools with 2,462 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pisgah High | 9-12 | 908 | 16.2 |
| Bethel Elementary | K-5 | 528 | 15.1 |
| Canton Middle | 6-8 | 493 | 15.4 |
| North Canton Elementary | PK-5 | 326 | 15.5 |
| Meadowbrook Elementary | PK-5 | 207 | 13.8 |
Towns near Canton
- Lake Junaluska, NC7.6 mi · 3,219 people · home $389,200
- Waynesville, NC9.7 mi · 10,140 people · home $281,700
- Woodfin, NC16.1 mi · 7,936 people · home $366,700
- Asheville, NC16.2 mi · 94,589 people · home $440,000
- Mills River, NC17.7 mi · 7,078 people · home $436,100
- Royal Pines, NC19.3 mi · 4,127 people · home $400,200
- Weaverville, NC19.5 mi · 4,567 people · home $463,700
- Fletcher, NC20.0 mi · 7,987 people · home $331,100
Canton questions
Is Canton, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canton scores better for retirees than 35% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 41%. 18.3% 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 $246,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,924, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $790 a month.
What is the weather like in Canton?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 25.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.0 inches of precipitation a year and 10.3 inches of snow.
Does Canton get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on February 18, 1976. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)