Canton is a town in Haywood County, North Carolina, home to about 4,419 people across 3.7 square miles. Its ZIP code is 28716.
Homes sold for a median of $240 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.
Mostly Canton; also West Canton
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Canton. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Canton’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Canton well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)68 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)18 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Charlotte, NC115 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL509 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Canton; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Canton had 4,422 residents in the 2020 census, up 10% since 2000.
It’s the 194th largest of 771 towns in North Carolina by population.
Haywood County grew from 16,222 residents in 1900 to 62,089 in 2020.
Haywood County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 24°F. About 50.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 11 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Waynesville 1 E, NC weather station (7 miles away).
16,322 jobs at 1,546 businesses in Haywood County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
48 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Canton.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 10 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 4 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 12 |
| Mental health providers | 11 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 8 |
| Chiropractors | 3 |
| Pharmacies | 4 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (2 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Haywood County Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadowbrook ElementaryCanton | Pre-K–5 | 198 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| North Canton ElementaryCanton | Pre-K–5 | 332 | Public | 2.4 mi |
| Bethel ElementaryCanton | K–5 | 537 | Public | 3.2 mi |
| Canton MiddleCanton | 6–8 | 475 | Public | 1.0 mi |
| Pisgah HighCanton | 9–12 | 859 | Public | 0.6 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Canton? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with West Canton.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.