Canton is the second largest town in Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. It is located about 17 miles (27 km) west of Asheville and is part of that city's metropolitan area. The town is named after the city of Canton, Ohio. The population was 4,422 at the 2020 census.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Canton ranks

All →

#4Most walkable in NC #41Cheapest rent in NC #84Lowest obesity in NC All NC rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code28716

Area code828

Living in Canton

Housing in Canton

$292K▼ 4% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Canton home is worth about $292,000, down 4% in a year, 13% below the North Carolina typical home.

A buyer's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market48

Sale-to-list100%

Sold in May5

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Canton

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Canton's police department reported only 2023 and 2024, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Canton 1.6

North Carolina 3.8

U.S. 3.6

Property crime per 1,000

Canton 18.8

North Carolina 20.1

U.S. 17.7

FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Canton

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Canton for work: only 12% work in town. The top destinations are Asheville (23%), Waynesville (9%) and Hendersonville (2%). Half commute less than 16 miles.

Asheville

23%

Waynesville

Hendersonville

Charlotte

12%Work in townlive and work in Canton 16 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,899Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Canton →

Health in Canton

Health Grade B

Healthier than 63% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 80% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with North Carolina

4better than NC·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 27 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

12.3%Fewer adults facing food insecurityNC 15.2% · better 6.6%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offNC 8.1% · better 9.2%More adults who have had cancerNC 7.9% · worse

Care nearby

Haywood Regional Medical CenterClyde · 5.9 mi · ER

Haywood Health CenterClyde · 6.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Canton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Canton →

Natural hazards in Canton

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 65% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

101Does Canton flood?paid flood claims since 1983 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Canton

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Canton →

Climate in Canton

Full climate →

Canton has chilly winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 10 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

48° / 27°Winter

66° / 41°Spring

81° / 59°Summer

67° / 43°Fall

How much snow does Canton get?About 10 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 22, with the last in spring around Apr 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Canton →

Schools in Canton

All Canton schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Canton’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 69% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#81Best public schoolsof 252 in NC

DistrictHaywood County SchoolsSchools4

North Canton Elementary A-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 332 students Meadowbrook Elementary B+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 198 students Canton Middle C+Middle · Grades 6–8 · 475 students Pisgah High A-High · Grades 9–12 · 859 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NC. Ratings are from neighbors.