City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Canton, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Canton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

4,417
Residents
$64,034
Median income
$226,400
Median home
$1,230
Median rent (state)

Canton - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Canton lands in the 41st percentile for household income and the 31st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

41st
percentile, household income
50th
percentile, home value
39th
percentile, median rent
31st
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Canton, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 4,417 residents in Canton, a small town within North Carolina. Canton households earn a median of $64,034 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.0%. Home values in Canton run a median of $226,400, and the median resident age is 36.3 years. About 15.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 65.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2037.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,230 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in North Carolina run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 77.2 out of 100 (High).

Population

4,417 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$64,034 /yr

Poverty 14.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Canton compare to other US cities?

Canton measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 41% higher than other cities
Home value 50% pricier than other cities
Median rent 39% pricier than other cities
Safety 31% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just North Carolina and the picture shifts: Canton ranks #76 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Canton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher sits close to the middle of North Carolina's city distribution

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Canton ranks #532 - the 28th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Canton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#290 of 700
59th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#281 of 746
62nd percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#257 of 708
64th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#262 of 746
64th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#532 of 746
28th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

41stIncome percentile
31stSafety percentile

41st percentile nationally for median household income · 31st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Canton's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Canton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 43 Avg. percentile National median
Canton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Canton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$226,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 50% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Canton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Canton, NC Canton, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Canton, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Canton, NC median $64,034/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Canton, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Canton, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
4,417
Median Income
$64,034
Median Home Value
$226,400
Median Age
36.3
Poverty Rate
14.0%
Labor force participation
65.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2037.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
158.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1879.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,380 residents4,400 residents4,420 residents4,440 residents4,460 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,404 residents 4,418 residents ▲ +0.3%
Canton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.7%
Carpool
5.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.6%
Work from Home
3.1%
Other
5.0%

Based on 2,232 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Canton sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,230/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
77.2 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Newport
4,428 people
Shallotte
4,465 people
Edenton
4,480 people
North Wilkesboro
4,348 people
China Grove
4,487 people
Farmville
4,493 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Canton's 4,417 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Florida Gulf Coast University, FL
4,416 people
National Harbor, MD
4,418 people
Crouch Mesa, NM
4,419 people
Tazewell, VA
4,419 people
Breckenridge Hills, MO
4,413 people
Huntingdon, TN
4,413 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Canton's $64,034 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Jamestown West, NY
$64,034 median income
Joshua Tree, CA
$64,036 median income
The Homesteads, TX
$64,037 median income
Lake Katrine, NY
$64,038 median income
Danbury, IA
$64,028 median income
Duryea, PA
$64,028 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Canton, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Canton, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.5% White 92.1% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 0.4% American Indian 2.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.1% Two or more races 3.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Canton compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Canton (this city) 4,417 $64,034
Newport 4,428 $76,091
Shallotte 4,465 $75,642
Edenton 4,480 $42,721
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Canton, NC?

What is the population of Canton, NC? +

The population of Canton, NC stands at 4,417 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Canton, NC? +

Median annual household income in Canton runs $64,034, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Canton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Canton; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Canton, NC safe? +

Canton has a total crime rate of 2037.6 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Canton, NC? +

The median home value in Canton is $226,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.