The Town FilesCanton, Georgia
City in Cherokee County · population 32,973 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $407,800
- Household income
- $80,091
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 34.5
Canton is a city of 32,973 people in Cherokee County, Georgia. The median home is worth $407,800, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks more vibrant than 81% of Georgia towns, more upscale than 80% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 74% of Georgia towns.
How Canton ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canton is worth $407,800, above the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $80,091, which is more affordable than 11% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $1,680 a month. 55.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canton | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $407,800 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $1,680 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $80,091 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 55.6% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Canton
| People | Canton | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.1% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Canton
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 29.0°F. About 51.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 22, 1992 about 6.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 20, 2008.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657: Hurricane Isaias |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| January 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579: Tropical Storm Zeta |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 74,280 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,283 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Canton itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Canton
19 public schools with 22,047 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee High School | 9-12 | 3,011 | 15.1 |
| Creekview High School | 9-12 | 2,121 | 16.7 |
| Sequoyah High School | 9-12 | 2,101 | 16.9 |
| Teasley Middle School | 6-8 | 1,552 | 13.4 |
| Creekland Middle School | 6-8 | 1,484 | 16.3 |
| Dean Rusk Middle School | 6-8 | 1,483 | 16.5 |
| Avery Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,132 | 14.9 |
| William G. Hasty- Sr. Elementary School | PK-5 | 1,127 | 12.0 |
| Liberty Elementary School | PK-5 | 954 | 13.3 |
| Hickory Flat Elementary School | PK-5 | 924 | 15.1 |
| Freedom Middle School | 6-8 | 904 | 16.4 |
| Indian Knoll Elementary | PK-5 | 896 | 14.9 |
Towns near Canton
- Holly Springs, GA5.5 mi · 16,213 people · home $448,400
- Ball Ground, GA9.6 mi · 2,560 people · home $366,300
- Woodstock, GA10.0 mi · 35,065 people · home $436,500
- Milton, GA12.3 mi · 41,296 people · home $789,000
- Jasper, GA15.5 mi · 4,084 people · home $282,500
- Roswell, GA16.4 mi · 92,833 people · home $567,100
- Acworth, GA16.8 mi · 22,440 people · home $339,900
- Kennesaw, GA16.8 mi · 33,036 people · home $335,400
Canton questions
Is Canton, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canton scores better for retirees than 60% of Georgia towns and quieter than 26%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.5).
How much does a house cost in Canton?
The median owner-occupied home in Canton is valued at $407,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,091, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,680 a month.
What is the weather like in Canton?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 29.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Canton get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 22, 1992. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- 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)