The Town FilesCanton, Michigan
Charter township in Wayne County · population 98,659 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $372,400
- Household income
- $121,359
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 40.9
Canton is a charter township of 98,659 people in Wayne County, Michigan. The median home is worth $372,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more upscale than 97% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Canton ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canton is worth $372,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $121,359, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,501 a month. 76.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $372,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,501 | $955 |
| Median household income | $121,359 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Canton
| People | Canton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.0% | — |
| Work from home | 23.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Canton
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.6°F. About 30.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 13, 2008 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 4, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 9, 2001.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wayne County
Wayne County had 725,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,411 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Canton itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Canton
21 public schools with 15,667 students, about 18.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton High School | 6-12 | 1,917 | 20.2 |
| Plymouth High School | 6-12 | 1,911 | 19.5 |
| Salem High School | 6-12 | 1,887 | 20.7 |
| South Canton Scholars Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 816 | 24.7 |
| Liberty Middle School | 6-8 | 814 | 18.5 |
| Achieve Charter Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 765 | 26.4 |
| Canton Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 759 | 24.5 |
| Discovery Middle School | 6-8 | 734 | 19.3 |
| Workman Elementary School | K-5 | 689 | 17.7 |
| Canton Preparatory High School (charter) | 7-12 | 660 | 21.3 |
| Tonda Elementary School | PK-5 | 494 | 17.0 |
| Dodson Elementary School | PK-5 | 485 | 14.7 |
Towns near Canton
- Plymouth, MI4.5 mi · 9,370 people · home $448,600
- Plymouth, MI4.6 mi · 27,938 people · home $400,800
- Wayne, MI5.4 mi · 17,713 people · home $157,800
- Westland, MI5.4 mi · 85,420 people · home $184,600
- Superior, MI5.9 mi · 14,832 people · home $305,800
- Van Buren, MI6.0 mi · 30,375 people · home $269,700
- Belleville, MI7.3 mi · 4,008 people · home $148,300
- Garden City, MI7.5 mi · 27,380 people · home $168,800
Canton questions
Is Canton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canton scores better for retirees than 30% of Michigan towns and quieter than 4%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Canton?
The median owner-occupied home in Canton is valued at $372,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $121,359, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,501 a month.
What is the weather like in Canton?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.2 inches of precipitation a year and 61.4 inches of snow.
Does Canton get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 13, 2008. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)