Last Updated on: 14th March 2024, 12:02 pm
You’ll have a ton of fun living in Canton! Isaac Swan founded Canton in 1825 on undeveloped and rural land. The community got its name from Canton, China, as Swan believed his town and Canton were antipodes. The community was incorporated as a city in 1837 and became a coal mining center through the 19th and 20th centuries. Its motto is “We do that here.”
What is Canton known for? Canton is best known for its parks, recreation centers, and other unique attractions. Is Canton a good place to live? Yes, Canton IL is a great place to live with affordable homes for sale, fun things to do, and prosperous job opportunities. But before you start moving to Canton, you should learn more about this special city. Here’s your guide on living in Canton IL.
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Where Is Canton Illinois?
What county is Canton in? Canton Illinois is in Fulton County, which is in the Peoria IL metropolitan area; it is 31.5 miles from Canton IL to Peoria IL. Where is Canton? The city of Canton IL has a well-developed downtown commercial center surrounded by residential cul de sacs. The cul de sacs border parks and nature preserves, and undeveloped areas and farmland surround the entire city. There are no major geographic features in or near the community. Rawalts, Dunfermline, St. David, Buckheart Township, and Fairview border Canton.
Canton does not have its own public transportation system, but Fulton County Rural Transit (FCRT) is based in Canton IL. You can request rides in private vans to any location in the county, with one-way trips in Canton Illinois costing $2. CityLink, Peoria’s public transportation system, does not serve Canton residents.
Canton Population and Demographics
The Canton population in 2020 was 13,242; the population shrank by 9.9% between 2010 and 2020, though Canton remains the largest city in Fulton County. Canton IL accounts for nearly half of Fulton County’s population, and it’s the densest community in the county, at 1,685.2 residents per square mile. Canton Illinois is also one of the oldest communities in the state; the median age is 44.7, six years older than the state median, and 21% of residents are 65 years old and older.
Notable people from Canton include Jack Fisk, Ian Wolfe, and Elizabeth Magie. Canton demographics include:
- 53.2% male, 46.8% female
- Median age: 44.7
- Racial and ethnic composition: 87.3% White (85.5% non-Hispanic), 6.3% Black or African American, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 3.2% two or more races, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian
- Median household income: $52,749 (two-thirds of the state median)
- Educational attainment: 86.6% of residents older than 25 have graduated high school, 17.1% have a bachelor’s degree
- Foreign-born population: 1.7%
Most people living in Canton are of European descent, but they come from all parts of Europe. 18.6% of Canton residents have German ancestry, while 14.9% have English ancestry and 9.6% have Irish ancestry. You can find community centers, restaurants, and clubs that celebrate German, English, and Irish culture in and around Canton.
Here are the latest crime statistics for Canton IL:
- Overall crime rate: 2,694 offenses per 100,000 people (36.8% higher than the state average, 18% higher than the national average)
- Violent crime rate: 392 crimes per 100,000 people (36.6% higher than the state average, 5.9% higher than the national average)
- Property crime rate: 2,301 offenses per 100,000 residents (36.7% higher than the state average, 17.8% higher than the national average)
Though Canton’s crime statistics are higher than the national average, you can still find safe places to live in Canton. The Canton Police Department responds to all emergencies in Canton and employs 20 sworn police officers.
Cost of Living in Canton
Canton cost of living statistics are hard to find, so you can use Peoria IL cost of living statistics to estimate the cost of living in Canton. The Peoria cost of living index (COLI) compares the cost of items in Peoria to the cost of items nationwide. The COLI in Peoria is 87.4, meaning items in Peoria cost 12.6% less than the national average. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would need to earn $95,572 to cover the cost of living in Fulton County. Most people should be able to live an affordable life in Canton, even while caring for children.
Canton real estate is amongst the most affordable in Illinois. According to Redfin, the median price of homes for sale in Canton Illinois is $94,500, and the price per square foot is $64. The median rent for Canton apartments is $1,075 a month, roughly half the national average.
Typical Canton* Living Expenses
- 1 loaf of fresh white bread: $2.69
- 1 pound of local cheese: $3.17
- 1 pound of bananas: $0.53
- 1 gallon of gasoline: $3.49
- Average Canton* utilities per month: $214.57
- 1 pair of jeans: $58.00
Source: Numbeo
*Expenses actually for Peoria
Canton Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Canton
Canton does not have formal neighborhoods. Most homes for sale in Canton Illinois are the same, no matter where exactly you’re looking in the city. They are single-family, standalone properties that have at least two bedrooms and cover 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. Most houses for sale in Canton IL were built in the mid-1900s, so they have midcentury architectural features like wood paneling. Many properties are low-maintenance with single-story layouts, so you don’t have to spend time cleaning.
Houses for sale Canton IL are not luxurious, though some of them have been recently renovated, so you don’t have to perform renovations or deep cleans after moving to Canton. There are very few options for large houses for sale Canton IL, apartments, or townhomes; all 12 homes sold in December 2023 in Canton Illinois were single-family properties. You can find properties for sale at less than $100,000, though some of these homes are as-is properties that need renovations after you move in.
Notable complexes for Canton apartments include Village Square Apartments and Oak Lawn Apartments. Both of these complexes offer studio and one-bedroom apartments starting at less than $500, making them good choices for singles.
Canton Weather and Climate
Canton experiences a humid continental climate, with long and warm summers and frigid and snowy winters. July is the hottest month of the year, with an average temperature of 76 degrees and an average high of 85. January is the coldest month, with an average of 25 degrees and an average low of 19. The average lows stay below freezing throughout the winter, but temperatures pick up during the spring and are mild during the fall.
The Canton weather is clear in the summer, with over 60% of days being clear, mostly clear, and partly cloudy. However, the summer is the rainiest season of the year. The community receives 31.1 inches of rain, with 10.3 inches falling in the summer alone. The high precipitation means that nearly half of days in the summer are humid, muggy, or oppressive. The community also receives 13.5 inches of snow, most of which fall in December and January.
Canton IL can experience tornadoes, some of which are powerful enough to cause power outages or destroy homes. The Canton tornado of 1975 caused $20 million of property damage. You should follow weather forecasts in the spring and summer and prepare a tornado shelter in your basement.
The best time to visit Canton Illinois is October. 60% of days in October are clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy. The average temperature is 54 degrees, so you can stay outside wearing a jacket and a long sleeved shirt. You can also visit many top autumn attractions, including fall festivals and Halloween parties.
Things to Do in Canton
You can find many fun things to do in Canton, including top outdoor attractions. Ask a resident what to do in Canton, and they’ll tell you to go shopping. The Hyvee Grocery Store is the leading grocery store in Canton, offering many household goods and groceries at affordable prices. Farm King is a top sporting goods store, while The Sweet Shoppe is a kid-friendly candy store.
Lakeland Park
Lakeland Park is a family-friendly park with numerous unique features, including a concessions stand, a boat launch, and walking trails. Points of interest inside the 600-acre park include a veterans memorial and bird refuges, where you can spot grassland birds in winter throughout the year.
1200 Lakeland Park Drive, Canton, IL, 61520, 309-647-4702
Big Creek Park
Big Creek Park is the best place for outdoor activities in Canton IL. The park contains an 18-hole frisbee golf course, baseball and softball diamonds, a sledding hill, a swimming pool, and walking and cycling trails. The Gary Baker Recreation Center is on-site, and you can rent it out for parties and club meetings.
950 North Main Street, Canton, IL, 61520, 309-647-7665
The Majestic Theatre
The Majestic Theatre is the top movie theater in Canton Illinois, screening first-run movies in a retro setting. The theatre offers affordable prices for all screenings, with all kids 12 and under paying just $7 a ticket.
62 North Main Street, Canton, IL, 61520, 855-922-4263
Additional Attractions in Canton
The Canton Park District manages Lakeland Park, Big Creek Park, and other parks in Canton. The department also plans special events, like holiday parties and arts classes, throughout the year; you can use the Canton Park event calendar to see when these events will take place.
Canton Restaurants
Peoria cuisine is known for being diverse, with Chinese, Mediterranean, and Italian restaurants open throughout the city. You can also find restaurants from all over the world in Canton, as well as adult and kid-friendly Canton restaurants.
Monicals
Monicals is a casual pizzeria that offers thin-crust and pan pizzas in a family-friendly setting. You can order large combo pizzas with sausage and vegetables for $25, making it a good restaurant for groups to visit at an affordable price.
135 North 5th Avenue, Canton, IL, 61520, 309-647-1127
Country Line
Country Line Grill and Bar is a locally-run bar that serves salads, tacos, sandwiches, and burgers for less than $10. You can order $2 margaritas on weeknights and enjoy breakfast specials on weekends, including country-fried steak for $10.
725 West Locust Street, Canton, IL, 61520, 309-647-3404
Billy’s Tap Room
Billy’s Tap Room is a neighborhood bar best known for its burgers and beers on tap. It is a popular place to visit on game days, with several televisions spread throughout the bar, making it a great place to hang out with friends.
172 East Elm Street, Canton, IL, 61520, 309-647-9639
Jobs in Canton IL
The market for Canton IL jobs has been growing steadily. 5,422 people had jobs in Canton IL in 2021, up by 6.9% from 2020. Health care, manufacturing, and retail trade are the three biggest sectors for Canton IL jobs. Health care jobs in Canton pay median earnings of $81,769 a year, up by $1,400 since 2020.
According to Payscale, Canton jobs have an average base salary of $48,000 a year and an hourly rate of $16.98. Major employers in Canton Illinois and Fulton County include Graham Health System, Canton Union School District 66, and Illinois River Correctional Center. You can look for Canton jobs using Indeed; you can also visit the city’s website to apply for City of Canton jobs.
Canton Schools
Canton Union School District 66 is the main Canton school district, serving all students living in Canton. All schools in the district are located inside Canton Illinois. There are three elementary schools in the district, including Eastview Elementary School, a PreK-4 school. Eastview Elementary employs 21 full-time teachers, all of whom are fully certified.
The district has one middle school, Ingersoll Middle School, which serves grades five through eight. Ingersoll Middle School employs 50 full-time teachers, all of whom are certified, and 85.7% of whom have three or more years of experience. The district’s high school is Canton High School, which has a graduation rate of 89%. Canton High School students run 30 different extracurricular programs, including a branch of the National Honor Society.
Spoon River College is located in Canton IL. Spoon River is a two-year public community college with associate degree and certificate programs, making it a good place for job training and an affordable education. The Parlin-Ingersoll Public Library is the primary public library in Canton Illinois, offering thousands of books you can take out for free while living in Canton.
Canton Statistics and Information
- County: Fulton County
- Township: Canton and Buckheart
- Canton area: 8.01 square miles
- Canton zip code: 61520
- Canton IL area code: 809
- Canton elevation: 640 feet
- Canton time zone: Central Time Zone (UTC-6)
- Closest airport to Canton: Peoria International Airport (PIA), 27.1 miles from Canton
Canton Map
You can use this Canton map to find great things to do, homes for sale, and restaurants in Canton.
You can make the most of living in Canton! Canton is one of the most affordable cities near Peoria, and it has some of the best attractions in the state, including kid-friendly outdoor points of interest.
But before you start living in this quaint city, you must figure out moving to Canton. Federal Companies has the best Canton movers, with over 200,000 customers served. Call 800-747-4100 for a free estimate today.
