The Town FilesCanton, Missouri
City in Lewis County · population 2,774 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,900
- Household income
- $55,357
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 36.5
Canton is a city of 2,774 people in Lewis County, Missouri. The median home is worth $117,900, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Missouri towns, hipper than 87% of Missouri towns, better transit than 85% of Missouri towns.
How Canton ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canton is worth $117,900, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $55,357, which is more affordable than 80% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $563 a month. 63.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,900 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $563 | $855 |
| Median household income | $55,357 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 63.5% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Canton
| People | Canton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 11.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.1% | 88.7% |
Weather in Canton
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 13, 1974 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 5, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 5, 2001.
Severe weather in Lewis County since 1996
Lewis County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lewis County
Lewis County had 2,401 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,339 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Canton itself the ACS puts it at 11%.
Public schools in Canton
2 public schools with 508 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CANTON ELEM. | PK-6 | 288 | 11.5 |
| CANTON HIGH | 7-12 | 220 | 11.0 |
Towns near Canton
- Quincy, IL15.7 mi · 39,463 people · home $153,200
- Hamilton, IL20.1 mi · 2,753 people · home $114,100
- Keokuk, IA20.4 mi · 9,900 people · home $104,300
- Palmyra, MO22.9 mi · 3,613 people · home $184,200
- Hannibal, MO29.8 mi · 17,108 people · home $127,700
Canton questions
Is Canton, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canton scores better for retirees than 78% of Missouri towns and quieter than 46%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Canton?
The median owner-occupied home in Canton is valued at $117,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,357, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $563 a month.
What is the weather like in Canton?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 17.8 inches of snow.
Does Canton get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 13, 1974. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)