What it's like to live in North Canton
North Canton is a small city in Ohio with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. North Canton deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, cold winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 47" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How North Canton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Canton
Based on North Canton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,058
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $41,160 a year
- 46% of North Canton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$40,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,120
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 27% below US
$1,029/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,029 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $201,200. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $201,200 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Stark County is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Stark County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 85% below US
51 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 998/100k · North Canton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 19% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is First Ladies National Historic Site (5 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
North Canton's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,029/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near North Canton
All Ohio guides →Moving to Massillon →
9 mi away · pop. 32,338
Rent $862/mo · Income $56,446
Compare with North Canton →Moving to New Franklin →
11 mi away · pop. 13,843
Rent $1,132/mo · Income $90,244
Compare with North Canton →Not sure North Canton is the one?
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