Fueled by the Industrial Revolution's need for steel and bricks in the early 1800s, Canton quickly grew from a village in northeastern Ohio into a Midwestern manufacturing center. Today, that industrial legacy is largely a memory, marked with a few remaining smokestacks, replaced with a more diverse economy that increasingly relies on tourism and other service-related fields. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is leading that tourism transformation, with the ongoing expansion of its main site and a connected entertainment village. Still, the city remains relatively affordable, with a cost of living 14% less than the national average.
Residents of Canton enjoy a budding arts scene, regional events for outdoor gatherings and a park system that serves both active and passive users. Boutiques and restaurants bring people downtown year-round, and in the northwestern part of Canton, Belden Village Mall and its surrounding area provide entertainment, retail and dining options.
Traffic and transportation run relatively smoothly, though the annual summertime Hall of Fame induction ceremony week slows traffic and fills hotel rooms. Despite this, the city retains a strong hometown vibe. “It’s got a small-town feel,” says Amy Myers-Guthrie, a local and Realtor with Keller Williams Commercial Legacy Group. “We rally around our teams, we support the local kids, and there’s a strong sense of community no matter what community you're in.” Canton is home to 70,589 residents, with white-collar workers making up 71% of the population.
Canton provides entertainment, dining, and a budding art scene for its residents.
Shattered Expressions" by artist Tommy Morgan hangs on a building in downtown Canton.
Boutique shops and locally owned restaurants attract visitors to downtown Canton.
Centennial Plaza provides community space for events in downtown Canton.
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Housing costs are lower than average
Housing costs in Canton are substantially lower than the national average. “Canton has very competitive pricing compared with the rest of the country,” says Fran Hicks, a Realtor for Hayes Realty with over 30 years of experience in the Canton area. “In some states, $400,000 won’t even buy you a house, but here, you can find a very nice four-bedroom.” From September 2023 to September 2024, the median home sale price was $206,000, about half the national median of about $415,000.
“Decreased supplies are driving up prices everywhere. Every listing gets about three to five offers,” she says. On average, homes tend to sell after 23 days on the market compared to the national average of 44 days.
Popular Canton neighborhoods include Martindale Park, north of downtown. It has a suburban feel and access to the Middlebranch Trail, Meadowlake Golf & Swim and Gervasi Vineyards. The Avondale area, between the Hall of Fame and the Belden Village Mall, has several city parks and offers well-maintained homes on large lots with downtown proximity. Hills and Dales Village is located west of town and on the border of a country club. This 100-year-old planned community features some of Canton’s most coveted historic homes. “There’s an old money vibe in Hills and Dales Village,” says Stacey Dentler, a Realtor with eXp Realty. “The homes are unique, and you won’t find many under an acre and a half.” The Ridgewood Historic District, which consists of fewer than 200 homes, is another desirable community with Tudor Revival and Georgian Revival-style homes from the early 1900s. Many residences in downtown neighborhoods were built in the early- to mid-1900s and are in need of repairs.
The J. M. Smucker Company and Diebold Nixdorf are major employers in Canton, while the economy is based on industry, healthcare and agriculture. The J. M. Smucker Company corporate campus is about 25 miles west of Canton, while a Diebold Nixdorf, Inc. corporate office is located in nearby North Canton. The city is home to two hospitals, Aultman Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital.
This historic Tudor Revival home is located in the Hills and Dales neighborhood of Canton.
A Colonial Home located in the Avondale neighborhood of Canton, Ohio.
Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital provides health care in Canton, Ohio.
Diebold Nixdorf, Inc. is one of the major employers located in Canton, Ohio.
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Hall of Fame and McKinley Museum
Canton is best known for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum. What was once a singular building for fans to explore during a day trip has expanded into a village with more enhancements in the works. Currently, it has a snow-tubing area, a small amusement park with a Ferris wheel and drop tower, several restaurants and a Build-A-Bear Workshop. When completed, the village will have a football-themed indoor waterpark and an onsite hotel. The newly revamped village is already bringing in an increased number of tourists who now come for more extended stays and explore other parts of Canton while they’re visiting.
The McKinley Museum, which once focused on preserving the legacy of the 25th president’s life, now includes a science exhibit with an animatronic Allosaurus named Alice and several interactive and hands-on elements for kids to enjoy. It’s a popular stop for school field trips, and memberships are available.
During First Fridays, residents can wander from the Canton Museum of Art to other galleries and restaurants in the arts district, all of which remain open later than usual, and enjoy music and food along the way. The city also maintains a seasonal outdoor skating rink behind the Stark County Courthouse in winter, and artisan/farmers markets take place both downtown and in Oakwood Square during warmer months. In addition, Gervasi Vineyard, a 55-acre property with several restaurants, has recently become a popular gathering place just north of downtown.
In an effort to increase tourism, the county has created two Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORA). These allow people to have an alcoholic drink outdoors during special events within a certain perimeter. Events like First Fridays in downtown Canton or live performances at the Plain Township Amphitheater draw in residents, who can gather with friends and family. There’s a DORA in Downtown Canton and the Hall of Fame Village, with a list of participating restaurants and businesses in each spot.
The William McKinley Library and Museum is located in Canton, Ohio.
Visitors to Canton Ohio can enjoy the artwork at the Canton Museum of Art.
Canton residents can enjoy entertainment at the Plain Township Amphitheater.
Hall of Fame Gallery has every Pro-Footballer inductee in Canton.
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School zones drive the housing market
Residents with a Canton mailing address are zoned for one of several area school districts. They can vary from house to house, and some homes even fall into two districts. Most residents of downtown Canton are assigned to Canton City Schools, which ranks No. 1 in “most diverse schools” in Stark County, scoring a C-minus on Niche. There is also a Canton Local School District, a separate entity from Canton City School District, that gets a C-plus score. This district is made up of an elementary, middle and a high school, serving students in the southern portion of Canton. Homebuyers consider homes that are zoned for the Plain Local School District, which gets an A-minus Niche score, to be more desirable. The district’s schools offer gifted programs, with Glenoak High School being a particular draw as an International Baccalaureate World School with extracurriculars such as performing arts and debate. Jackson Local School District, whose main offices are technically in Massillon, has schools located within the Canton city limits; students from within some Canton neighborhoods are zoned for Jackson. Among Canton residents, this is the most coveted district, and Niche agrees, giving it an A and listing it as No. 1 in Stark County. Students have access to 28 Advanced Placement courses, as well as dual enrollment classes, giving them the opportunity to earn an associate degree alongside their high school diploma.
Parents in Ohio can apply for the Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program, which awards funds of up to $6,166 for primary and secondary schools and $8,408 for high schools. They can use these scholarships to pay for schools that participate in EdChoice. Some popular Canton-area private schools are Canton Country Day School and Central Catholic High School. Parents will need to verify if a school participates in the program and if the funds will cover tuition costs.
Canton is home to several universities. Three are private Christian universities: Malone University, Bethel University and Walsh University. There is also a medical college, Aultman College, adjacent to Aultman Hospital, which offers degree programs in nursing, radiography and social work
Walsh University is a private college located in the North Canton neighborhood of Canton, Ohio.
Aultman College offers health care degrees in the Souers neighborhood of Canton, Ohio.
Malone University is located in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Canton, Ohio.
Stark State College has a campus located in downtown Canton.
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Golfing, lakes and trails galore
Canton Parks and Recreation and Stark Parks both manage park systems within the Canton area. City-run parks cover more than 800 acres and offer diverse attractions, including disc golf courses, skate parks and pickleball courts. They also organize sports leagues for children and adults. Stark Parks offers opportunities to ride horses along the Olde Muskingum Trail, kayak on Sippo Lake or camp at Quail Hollow Park. “Everybody has their membership to this lake or that park,” says Dentler. Stadium Park, McKinley Memorial Park and Sippo Lake Park-East are some of the most popular spots for outdoor rec. Golf is pretty big here, too, with multiple country clubs with acres of sprawling greens to choose from. Locals book their tee times at Brookside Country Club, Meadowlake Golf & Swim Club and Glenmoor Country Club.
Canton residents enjoy playing golf at Meadow Lake Golf and Swim.
Sippo Lake in the Sippo Lake neighborhood of Canton is a popular park for boating.
Residents of Canton enjoy the Pickleball Courts at Stadium Park.
The Mckinley Monument stands over Monument Park in Canton, Ohio.
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Bus lines and highways
Canton residents have access to Interstate 77, a north-south highway that runs from Cleveland to South Carolina. U.S. Route 30 also passes through Canton and joins with U.S. Route 62. Route 30 is an east-west highway that spans the country, connecting New Jersey to Oregon. In recent years, highway updates were made to accommodate an increase in traffic around the Hall of Fame. Stark County’s bus system, Stark Area Regional Transit Authority or SARTA, serves Canton residents. There are special buses designated for veterans to get rides to and from several Veterans Association health care facilities in Cincinnati, free of charge, and others for taking apartment residents directly to Belden Village Mall for shopping. SARTA has recently undertaken an initiative to acquire low/no-emission vehicles in an effort to benefit the city’s air quality. The Akron-Canton Airport, on the north end of town, serves 19 nonstop destinations, several of which are major airline hubs. The city has marked some bike lanes throughout the downtown area, and there are also a few county-maintained trails, such as the Middle Branch Trail, which bike commuters can use to get from place to place.
Notable restaurants and shopping
The Belden Village Mall area is the top shopping choice for many because it has both an indoor mall and several national grocery chains, as well as a Cinemark movie theater and an indoor trampoline park. Downtown, there are some date-night choices and several casual sports bar and tavern-style options. Bender’s Tavern is a landmark for many tourists; its claim to fame is that the founders of the NFL met in Bender’s to discuss forming the league. There are also salons and boutiques in the downtown area. On the northeast side of town, residents can find several strip mall-type shopping centers with chain restaurants and a few unique spots. The Oakwood Square Plaza, at the corner of Middlebranch Avenue Northeast and Easton Street Northeast, is a newly rebranded and renovated shopping area that is now a central hub for many Plain Township residents.
Benders Tavern is a famous dining destination in downtown Canton, Ohio.
Residents enjoy the cinematic experience at Cinemark Tinseltown in North Canton, Canton Ohio.
The Bistro Of Oakwood is located at Oakwood Square in the Plain Township neighborhood of Canton.
Belden Village Mall provides shopping and dining in Canton, Ohio.
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Crime statistics and climate concerns
According to FBI Crime Data, there were 789 violent crimes and 2,952 property crimes reported in 2023. “From 2022 to 2023, we saw a 4.97% decrease in violent crimes and a 10.08% decrease in property crimes,” says Lt. Dennis Garren of the Canton Police Department. The department has initiated two programs to focus more energy on areas of the city that experience more crimes. They are called Directed Patrols and Violence Interdiction Prevention (VIP); both are efforts to direct police resources where they are most needed. “We also have a full-time, real-time crime center to analyze crime data and trends so that we can make informed decisions on how to best serve the community,” Garren says. Recent trends show that more crimes per capita take place in the eastern part of Canton and fewer in the northwestern part of the city.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has determined that Canton is at the highest risk for hail, lightning and winter weather. Canton residents see more than 40 inches of snow per year on average, and temperatures fall below 50 degrees for almost six months annually.
On average, homes in Canton, OH sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Canton, OH over the last 12 months is $175,000, up 12% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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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.
