Founded in 1832, Canton evolved from a Civil War manufacturing hub to a prosperous mill town to a city of 37,000--among the fastest-growing areas in the Atlanta metropolitan region. The Cherokee County city occupies a scenic spot along the Etowah River, and its well-preserved historic downtown is a community draw. But the city's rural vibe is changing. “At one point, Canton was known for its spacious, acre-sized properties,” says Joel Boss, a Realtor with 1 Look Real Estate who’s been selling houses in the area for six years. “Some residents are not pleased with the recent development; they sought a quieter lifestyle and are now seeing more retail, including a Starbucks, and new neighborhoods emerging. However, many welcome the growth for the added convenience of nearby amenities.”
While commuting the 40 miles to Atlanta can be challenging due to traffic, many residents work in Alpharetta, 18 miles away. It's home to around 700 tech-focused companies, and major employers there include Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Lexis Nexis and Fiserv.
Canton is a growing city with downtown amenities and quiet neighborhoods.
The Etowah River flows west-southwest through Canton and soon forms Lake Allatoona.
Downtown Canton offers a variety of restaurants with outdoor seating.
Canton boasts growing retail spaces offering more amenities to residents.
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Recreation and weather in Canton
Canton makes the most of its location on the Etowah River. The 163-mile Etowah River Trail has multiple entrances throughout the city for paddlers and kayakers. Etowah River Park is the largest in the area, covering over 58 acres with an outdoor amphitheater that hosts live concerts throughout the year. Nearby Lake Canton and Lake Allatoona Reservoir draw boaters and locals looking to fish. Red Top Mountain State Park is a popular camping spot about 25 miles away.
Canton experiences hot summers and short winters. “Snow is rare, maybe one or two days in February,” says Boss. "Natural disasters are uncommon; a tornado might touch down in metro Atlanta once every five years. The hills prevent much flooding since the water has places to go." Nevertheless, areas around the river were shut down following flooding after Hurricane Helene.
Residents can set sail on Lake Allatoona in Canton..
Lake Allatoona is a hot spot for water sports among residents.
Etowah River flows through Canton with trails and kayak launches.
New subdivisions arising in Canton border Lake Canton.
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A historic downtown and live concerts at The Mill on Etowah
Downtown Canton features red-brick sidewalks lined with historic buildings housing locally owned bakeries, breweries and restaurants. Along the river, a 120-year-old mill has been repurposed as a shopping and dining destination, The Mill on Etowah, with open space for live concerts on Fridays. Downtown’s historic Canton Theatre hosts plays and film screenings. In 2022, planning for a Public Art Master Plan began honoring Canton’s history through murals and a sculpture garden outside History Cherokee, the town’s historical society. Traditions come together during First Fridays, a warm-weather event series that supports downtown businesses with live music and food vendors. The Canton Farmers Market offers fresh produce, baked goods and specialty foods on Saturdays in downtown’s Brown Park. Additional highlights include September's annual Multicultural Festival and Riverfest Arts & Crafts Festival.
Shopping centers on the city's outskirts include Riverstone Plaza and Canton Marketplace with big-box stores and supermarkets. “[Canton’s] got a rural vibe where you can feel like you’re out in the sticks,” Boss says. “You’re never more than five minutes from a Target or a cow.”
First Friday in Downtown Canton lasts from 6pm to 9pm.
Residents can shop fresh produce and a variety of other products at the Canton Farmers Market.
The Mill at Etowah River is a re-use development that is a popular place in Canton, GA.
Canton's Public Art Master Plan includes the addition of murals honoring the city's history.
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Resort-style amenities anchor the neighborhood of Bridgemill
Canton is made up of sprawling neighborhoods with large, hilly lots of land surrounded by views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. “Canton remains one of the top areas for finding acreage, though that’s changing as demand rises and space runs out," Boss says. "If you want to find a lot to build on, those opportunities have mostly passed. Any vacant lot gets snapped up quickly.” Master-planned communities include BridgeMill, with over 2,800 homes surrounding an 18-hole golf course. “It’s one of the most popular neighborhoods—huge, and each section feels different." In 2024, Canton’s median home price was $530,000, significantly less than nearby Alpharetta's median of $750,000.
Residents can spend their evening at BridgeMill golf course with their neighbors in Canton.
Master-planned communities like BridgeMill in Canton offers residents peaceful suburban living.
You'll find newly constructed homes in Canton.
Canton boasts views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Highly rated Cherokee County School District
The Cherokee County School District has an A-minus grade from Niche. It serves over 42,000 students across 23 elementary schools, seven middle schools, six high schools, five STEM academies and two fine arts academies. The Cherokee College and Career (C3) Academy offers pathways in aviation and cybersecurity. Chattahoochee Technical College is a two-year institution that features a 700-acre campus with science and HVAC labs and serves nearly 3,000 students.
Canton continues to develop
According to Canton’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the city aims to add more compact residential developments and infill existing subdivisions and urban areas. Canton also plans to diversify neighborhoods with a variety of housing types. The city is developing a Transportation Master Plan to improve infrastructure and multimodal options while alleviating traffic congestion. A downtown parking deck was added in late 2023, with ongoing projects like Downtown to the Mill Pedestrian Improvements and the River Mill District Pedestrian Bridge.
In Canton, you can cross the Etowah River Bridge from Etowah River Park to Heritage Park.
New home developments are helping to grow Canton, GA.
Farmhouse styled homes are common in Canton, and can vary in size and color.
The Mill at Etowah River in Canton includes a brewery, restaurants, and a marketplace.
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Less than 25 miles from Marietta and 40 miles to Atlanta
Canton is 18 miles north of Alpharetta and less than 25 miles from Marietta via Interstate 575, which connects to I-75. The drive to Atlanta is about 40 miles, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, one of the busiest in the country, is about 50 miles away. Cherokee Area Transit Service offers a fixed route in Canton on weekdays only. Northside Hospital Cherokee is 3 miles away.
Crime in Canton
In 2023, the Canton Police Department’s crime rate was 51.26 per 100,000 residents. In addition to the CPD’s efforts, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office offers community programs, including a Citizens Academy and Neighborhood Watch, to promote crime prevention.
Written By
Pao Cordero
Photography Contributed By
Kristinah Archer
Video By
Dan Mack
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Wendy Creel,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Canton, GA sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Canton, GA over the last 12 months is $517,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome home! Move in ready, beautiful tri-level home with homey front porch in Silver Creek neighborhood located in North Cherokee County. All major items updated: Newer roof, paint in & out, HVAC, new Carpeting, septic pumped/serviced Sept 2025. Great space with Bedroom, Bathroom, Laundry, & Living/rec room on the main/1st level. Great for teen suite/inlaw. Large vaulted great room with
This spacious home is an ideal investment for first-time homebuyers, offering a perfect blend of charm, comfort, and terrific features. Vibrant community including two pools, two tennis courts, basketball half-court, and walking trails. Friendly sidewalks to all the amenities, as well as to local shopping, dining, and entertainment. Located just inside Canton city limits and close to the
Welcome to sought-after Bridgemill community! This property checks all the boxes - open layout, quiet cul-de-sac street with walking trails to the lake LITERALLY in your backyard, newer systems, and an unfinished basement ready for you to make it just what you need.The main level features an open concept with lots of natural daylight and a bedroom and full updated bathroom. Upstairs offers a
Beautifully maintained 55+ and desirable neighborhood, this ranch-style home is the perfect choice! The home features a large screened-in Patio with ceiling fan overseeing a level and private backyard. The buffer/green space makes it especially serene to enjoy those quiet mornings and evenings. Storm door to the back patio has a doggie door as does the screen door to the fenced yard. The
Welcome to this beautifully maintained 3BR/2BA, 1,937 sq ft ranch nestled in the guard-gated, amenity-rich community of Soleil Laurel Canyon. Built in 2007 and boasting a newer roof (2022) and NEW HVAC (2025), this home offers worry-free living in a vibrant, active-adult setting. Charming curb appeal greets you with lush landscaping and a classic covered front porch. Inside, elegant details like
Welcome to this beautifully maintained 3BR/2BA, 1,937 sq ft ranch nestled in the guard-gated, amenity-rich community of Soleil Laurel Canyon. Built in 2007 and boasting a newer roof (2022) and NEW HVAC (2025), this home offers worry-free living in a vibrant, active-adult setting. Charming curb appeal greets you with lush landscaping and a classic covered front porch. Inside, elegant details like
Currently offering waived app and admin fee! Multiple floor plans available. Days on Market accrued is not specific to this current plan listed. Prices, promotions, and availability are subject to change. Contact the community beforehand directly and mention The Apartment Brothers. Welcome to theNEIGHBORHOODRiverstone Retreat is nestled in one of North Georgia’s fastest-growing
Multiple floor plans available. Days on Market accrued is not specific to this current plan listed. Prices, promotions, and availability are subject to change. Contact the community beforehand directly and mention The Apartment Brothers. Welcome to theNEIGHBORHOODRiverstone Retreat is nestled in one of North Georgia’s fastest-growing corridors, just off Riverstone Parkway in Canton.
Offering 6 weeks FREE! Multiple floor plans available. Days on Market accrued is not specific to this current plan listed. Prices, specials, promotions, availability, subject to change contact beforehand. Mayridge is reaching new heights by offering a higher standard in luxury living. Residents will enjoy wooded views, superior finishes, and distinctive design - all in the heart of Canton, GA.
Float on Lake Allatoona and sip wine on an outdoor patio in Sutallee, a rustic riverside community where the neighborhoods are as peaceful as the water. Locals love the rustic, secluded feel of this unincorporated Georgia community, but life here really centers around the 12,000-acre lake, which has about 270 miles of shoreline. Neighbors zip their jet skis, hoist their sails and dock their boats on the peaceful waterway. Houses in Sutallee are simply majestic. Two-story homes, outfitted with stone and brick accouterments, sit on spacious, grassy lots in neighborhoods developed in the early 2000s. Houses typically have two-car garages, well-kept front lawns with blooming floral gardens and freshly paved, light grey driveways. Two-story farmhouses can cost about $925,000, custom homes can go for $775,000 and ranch-style houses can cost around $450,000. Home prices range from roughly $285,000 to $2.4 million.<br><br>Lake Allatoona is the crown jewel of Sutallee. Surrounded by 25,000 acres of public land, the lake is a popular place for camping, either in a tent or an RV. When the temperature rises, neighbors come to the lake for fishing, jet skiing, water skiing and more. Boaters will love the Victoria Harbour Marina, where you can keep your boat in either a wet slip or on the largest dry stack on the entire lake. At the end of a day of boating, enjoy some fish tacos and a painkiller as the sun goes down at the marina’s Sunset Grille. Waterside green spaces like Fields Landing Park have picnic tables and paved pathways for leisurely afternoons by the lake. Golders will love BridgeMill Athletic Club, which has an 18-hole golf course and a driving range for lessons. The club also has courts for tennis and pickleball.<br><br>Sutallee is rustic and suburban, but all the amenities of modern life are nearby. Shop for groceries at Publix, pick up prescriptions at CVS and get a spa manicure at MC Nails. For a relaxing afternoon, check out Big Door Vineyards, a North Georgia winery where they stomp the grapes themselves. Bring your friends for a wine tasting, where you can order wine by the glass, by the bottle or sample several different varietals in a flight. Their original wine is Lenoir, a dry red with tart notes of cherry and an oak finish. Craving Mexican food? Enjoy some tacos and a frozen margarita from Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant.<br><br>Children in Sutallee can attend public school through the highly-rated Cherokee County School District. The school system has about 42,000 students and an A-minus rating from Niche. Most public-school kids in the neighborhood go to Joseph Knox Elementary School STEM Academy (rated A-minus), Teasley Middle School (rated B-plus) and Cherokee High School (rated A-minus). Knox Elementary integrates STEM education into its kindergarten through fifth-grade curriculum and has an active school council with parents, teachers and the principal. A new facility for Cherokee High School will open in August 2026.<br><br>Conveniently located along Georgia State Route 20 and minutes from Interstate 575, Sutallee sits about 52 miles north of Atlanta. Marietta is 34 miles away, and Chattanooga sits 83 miles north. If you want to live in a peaceful community by the lake, Sutallee could be somewhere to consider.
Property Mix - Square Feet
Canton Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
38,780
Median Age
37
Population under 18
26.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$80,412
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$101,074
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
84.9%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
29.7%
On par with the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.2%
% Population in Labor Force
66.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
54''
Average Winter Low Temperature
29°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®®
25/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®®
62/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
