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Living in
Canton.
About
Life in Canton
Canton is a community of 10,863 people in Mississippi. The median household income is $38,337, median rent runs about $989 per month, and median home values are around $111,800. Unemployment is low at 3.1%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Canton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
33.3%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
83.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Canton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Canton, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (41.7%), and 3.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
48.6%
of households
Married Couples
20.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.12
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 about average for MS
Rent, home values, and income in Canton
In Canton, home values are 34% below the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,002
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
36.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $221,924 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below MS average
Unemployment in Canton
Unemployment in Madison County, which includes Canton, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the MS average.
Unemployment rate
Canton: Madison County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Madison County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Canton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.9 min avg
How Canton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Canton, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
Small hub600k 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.
Safety
Crime rates
Crime data not available
The FBI has no complete year of crime data between 2018 and 2025 for the Canton Police Department, so there's no reliable local crime rate to show for Canton.
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
82.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Madison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Madison County, which includes Canton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $64,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.4M |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.1M |
| 2022 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.8M |
| 2021 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $481,000 |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.8M |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $292,000 |
| 2018 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Madison County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hinds County, MS (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 34 miles from Canton) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
167
per year
Moderate Days
198
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hinds County, MS (34 mi away)
Climate91°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Canton has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
57.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.5"
Hot Days/Year
76
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
57
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
102
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 34°F | 5.15" |
| Feb | 60°F | 36°F | 4.92" |
| Mar | 68°F | 43°F | 5.69" |
| Apr | 75°F | 51°F | 6.09" |
| May | 83°F | 60°F | 4.73" |
| Jun | 89°F | 67°F | 4.02" |
| Jul | 92°F | 70°F | 4.60" |
| Aug | 91°F | 69°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 88°F | 63°F | 4.06" |
| Oct | 78°F | 51°F | 4.30" |
| Nov | 66°F | 40°F | 4.64" |
| Dec | 58°F | 35°F | 5.01" |
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
18.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Merit Health Madison
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.
Education15.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Canton
Canton's student/teacher ratio is 15.7:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 25.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, 21 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Canton
Canton has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (21 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayVicksburg National Military Park
National Military Park
50 mi awayPoverty Point National Monument
National Monument
80 mi awayEmmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
97 mi awayNatchez Trace Parkway
Parkway
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Canton
Madison County-Canton Public Library
102 Priestley 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, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Canton's median rent is $989/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $38,337/year. Median home value is $112,000.
What is the job market like in Canton, Mississippi?⌄
Madison County, which includes Canton, has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Canton, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Canton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $989/month and median household income is $38,337/year. The median home value is $112,000. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Canton, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Canton is 23 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