The Town FilesCanton, Illinois
City in Fulton County · population 13,242 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,100
- Household income
- $53,254
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 45.9
Canton is a city of 13,242 people in Fulton County, Illinois. The median home is worth $107,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 83% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 82% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 82% of Illinois towns.
How Canton ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canton is worth $107,100, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $53,254, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $766 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $766 | $960 |
| Median household income | $53,254 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Canton
| People | Canton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.2% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Canton
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.4 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 4, 2023 about 2.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 13, 1975.
Severe weather in Fulton County since 1996
Fulton County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Fulton County
Fulton County had 8,642 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,887 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Canton itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Canton
7 public schools with 2,098 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton High School | 9-12 | 609 | 13.8 |
| Ingersoll Middle School | 5-8 | 608 | 12.4 |
| Westview Elementary School | PK-4 | 389 | 16.9 |
| Eastview Elementary School | PK-4 | 283 | 10.9 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | K-4 | 209 | 11.6 |
| ROYALS RSSP Canton | 6-12 | — | — |
| ROYALS Academy Canton | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Canton
- Havana, IL18.6 mi · 2,963 people · home $95,300
- Bartonville, IL20.5 mi · 5,945 people · home $139,100
- Pekin, IL21.7 mi · 31,731 people · home $120,700
- West Peoria, IL22.7 mi · 4,263 people · home $93,900
- Marquette Heights, IL23.0 mi · 2,541 people · home $123,800
- Creve Coeur, IL23.4 mi · 4,934 people · home $85,500
- Bushnell, IL24.6 mi · 2,718 people · home $71,900
- Abingdon, IL25.3 mi · 2,951 people · home $99,600
Canton questions
Is Canton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canton scores better for retirees than 44% of Illinois towns and quieter than 32%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Canton?
The median owner-occupied home in Canton is valued at $107,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,254, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $766 a month.
What is the weather like in Canton?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 14.4 inches of snow.
Does Canton get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 4, 2023. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)