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Living in
Canton.
About
Life in Canton
Canton is a community of 13,408 people in Illinois. The median household income is $53,254, median rent runs about $766 per month, and median home values are around $106,900. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.
Canton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.2%
Foreign-Born
2.1%
Broadband Internet
87.6%
of households
Population Growth
-0.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Canton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Canton, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (70.0%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
13.2%
of residents
65 and Older
22.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.5%
of households
Married Couples
40.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.03
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 40% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Canton
In Canton, rent runs 40% below the IL average, and home values are 59% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
11.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,418
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $108,350 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Canton
Unemployment in Fulton County, which includes Canton, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Canton: Fulton County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Fulton County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Canton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.3 min avg
How Canton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Canton, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA)
Regional airport · few flights401k passengers boarded in 2025
- 149 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Canton is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
320.6
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,532.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Canton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
59.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Fulton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Fulton County, which includes Canton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,000 |
| 2024 | 23 | Hail | None reported |
| 2023 | 24 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 10 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $660,000 |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $157,000 |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $150,000 |
| 2018 | 7 | Hail | $406,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Fulton County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Peoria County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 21 miles from Canton) is typically good — 214 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
214
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Peoria County, IL (21 mi away)
Climate86°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Canton has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.5"
Annual Snowfall
14.4"
Hot Days/Year
35
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
133
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
94
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 16°F | 2.20" |
| Feb | 39°F | 20°F | 2.18" |
| Mar | 51°F | 30°F | 2.72" |
| Apr | 64°F | 41°F | 4.22" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 5.08" |
| Jun | 85°F | 62°F | 4.73" |
| Jul | 88°F | 65°F | 4.18" |
| Aug | 86°F | 63°F | 4.02" |
| Sep | 80°F | 54°F | 3.26" |
| Oct | 68°F | 42°F | 3.37" |
| Nov | 52°F | 32°F | 2.73" |
| Dec | 39°F | 22°F | 2.35" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Canton
Canton has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Graham Hospital Association
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Canton
Canton's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 57 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Canton
Canton has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lincoln Home National Historic Site (57 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
57 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
57 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
77 mi awayPublic Libraries in Canton
Parlin-Ingersoll Public Library
205 West Chestnut Street, Canton
Cities Near Canton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Canton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Canton FAQ
Is Canton, Illinois affordable?⌄
Canton's median rent is $766/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,254/year. Median home value is $107,100.
Is Canton, Illinois safe?⌄
Canton's violent crime rate was 321 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1533 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Canton, Illinois?⌄
Fulton County, which includes Canton, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Canton, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Canton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $766/month and median household income is $53,254/year. The median home value is $107,100. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Canton, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Canton is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from