The Town FilesCanton, Massachusetts
Town in Norfolk County · population 24,370 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $710,600
- Household income
- $143,381
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 70 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 42.6
Canton is a town of 24,370 people in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $710,600, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more upscale than 84% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Massachusetts towns, better transit than 74% of Massachusetts towns.
How Canton ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canton is worth $710,600, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $143,381, which is more affordable than 39% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,315 a month. 73.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $710,600 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,315 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $143,381 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 73.6% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Canton
| People | Canton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67.5% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.0% | — |
| Work from home | 25.7% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 35.9 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in Canton
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 53.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 69.7 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 9, 1953 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 18, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 6, 1999.
Severe weather in Norfolk County since 1996
Norfolk County has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Norfolk County
Norfolk County had 346,327 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $84,497 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Canton itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Canton
8 public schools with 4,195 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton High | 9-12 | 931 | 13.3 |
| Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical | 9-12 | 918 | 11.3 |
| Wm H Galvin Middle | 6-8 | 742 | 11.4 |
| Lt Peter M Hansen | K-5 | 536 | 13.4 |
| Dean S Luce | K-5 | 477 | 12.9 |
| John F Kennedy | K-5 | 457 | 12.0 |
| Rodman Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 134 | 14.9 |
| Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children | Other | — | — |
Towns near Canton
- Norwood, MA3.7 mi · 31,611 people · home $651,700
- Randolph Town, MA3.7 mi · 34,984 people · home $496,400
- Stoughton, MA4.1 mi · 29,281 people · home $523,800
- Avon, MA4.7 mi · 4,777 people · home $509,600
- Milton, MA5.1 mi · 28,630 people · home $933,200
- Sharon, MA5.1 mi · 6,184 people · home $677,900
- Sharon, MA5.6 mi · 18,575 people · home $737,100
- Westwood, MA5.6 mi · 16,266 people · home $1,041,500
Canton questions
Is Canton, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canton scores better for retirees than 59% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 29%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Canton?
The median owner-occupied home in Canton is valued at $710,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $143,381, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $2,315 a month.
What is the weather like in Canton?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.3 inches of precipitation a year and 69.7 inches of snow.
Does Canton get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- 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)