The Town FilesCanton, South Dakota
City in Lincoln County · population 3,066 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,400
- Household income
- $60,850
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 42.2
Canton is a city of 3,066 people in Lincoln County, South Dakota. The median home is worth $191,400, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). It ranks better transit than 95% of South Dakota towns, more walkable than 91% of South Dakota towns, easier by car than 78% of South Dakota towns.
How Canton ranks
Percentile among South Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canton is worth $191,400, above the typical South Dakota town ($182,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $60,850, which is more affordable than 30% of South Dakota towns. Median rent is $673 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,400 | $182,100 |
| Median rent | $673 | $785 |
| Median household income | $60,850 | $66,086 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 71.0% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Canton
| People | Canton | Typical South Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.9% | 19.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 23.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 10.1% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 17.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Canton
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 27.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.1 inches of snow (typical South Dakota town: 39.8 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical South Dakota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 26, 1986 about 4.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 6, 2000.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4807: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4527: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3475: Covid-19 |
| November 18, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4469: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 7, 2019 | Flood | DR-4440: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 29,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,125 a year. Unemployment was 1.6% in 2023; in Canton itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Canton
3 public schools with 880 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Elementary - 02 | K-5 | 404 | 13.5 |
| Canton High School - 01 | 9-12 | 278 | 14.6 |
| Canton Middle School - 04 | 6-8 | 198 | 14.1 |
Towns near Canton
- Harrisburg, SD11.1 mi · 6,732 people · home $312,200
- Tea, SD15.9 mi · 5,598 people · home $351,100
- Rock Valley, IA16.5 mi · 4,059 people · home $231,200
- Sioux Falls, SD18.0 mi · 192,517 people · home $292,400
- Brandon, SD20.0 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Hawarden, IA21.5 mi · 2,700 people · home $136,300
- Rock Rapids, IA22.8 mi · 2,611 people · home $206,700
- Sioux Center, IA26.1 mi · 8,229 people · home $290,800
Canton questions
Is Canton, South Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canton scores better for retirees than 43% of South Dakota towns and quieter than 43%. 25.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Canton?
The median owner-occupied home in Canton is valued at $191,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,850, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $673 a month.
What is the weather like in Canton?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.8 inches of precipitation a year and 36.1 inches of snow.
Does Canton get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 26, 1986. The typical South Dakota town has had 13.
- 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)