The Town FilesCanton, Mississippi
City in Madison County · population 10,948 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,000
- Household income
- $38,337
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 35.2
Canton is a city of 10,948 people in Madison County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $112,000, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Mississippi towns, hipper than 78% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 73% of Mississippi towns.
How Canton ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canton is worth $112,000, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $38,337, which is more affordable than 49% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $989 a month. 36.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canton | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,000 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $989 | $820 |
| Median household income | $38,337 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 36.1% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Canton
| People | Canton | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.3% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.3% | 83.3% |
Weather in Canton
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 33.6°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 24, 2001 about 2.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 225 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 20, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on January 22, 1999.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 10, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4790: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 60,205 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,426 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Canton itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Canton
14 public schools with 4,272 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MADISON CROSSING ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 749 | 15.3 |
| CANTON PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 643 | 21.4 |
| JIMMIE M. GOODLOE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 399 | 14.8 |
| MC NEAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 391 | 15.0 |
| NICHOLS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 388 | 14.9 |
| CANTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 387 | 14.3 |
| REUBEN B. MYERS CANTON SCHOOL OF AR | PK-5 | 386 | 14.3 |
| HUEY L. PORTER MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 376 | 17.1 |
| CANTON PUBLIC 9TH GRADE SCHOOL | 9-9 | 262 | 13.8 |
| LUTHER BRANSON SCHOOL | PK-5 | 143 | 6.8 |
| SHIRLEY D. SIMMONS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 139 | 7.7 |
| SR1 COLLEGE PREP & STEM ACADEMY (charter) | K-1 | 9 | 1.8 |
Towns near Canton
- Gluckstadt, MS6.3 mi · 3,208 people · home $316,600
- Madison, MS10.3 mi · 27,747 people · home $352,900
- Ridgeland, MS14.2 mi · 24,340 people · home $275,200
- Flowood, MS18.3 mi · 10,202 people · home $342,200
- Jackson, MS22.2 mi · 153,701 people · home $111,700
- Brandon, MS22.3 mi · 25,138 people · home $278,900
- Pearl, MS22.8 mi · 27,115 people · home $182,500
- Clinton, MS24.7 mi · 28,100 people · home $225,800
Canton questions
Is Canton, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canton scores better for retirees than 50% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 23%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Canton?
The median owner-occupied home in Canton is valued at $112,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,337, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $989 a month.
What is the weather like in Canton?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 33.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Canton get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 24, 2001. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)