Living in Canton, Mississippi

Canton is the county seat of Madison County, about 23 miles north of the State Capitol on I-55. It has a historic courthouse square on the National Register, a twice-a-year flea market, and the Nissan plant just outside town. Newer subdivisions with Canton addresses are also growing on the south side toward Gluckstadt.

By Jared Laster, Living in Mississippi. Updated 2026-10-24.

Watch: CANTON MISSISSIPPI | Where to Live in Jackson Mississippi

Canton at a glance

Based on information from MLS United, LLC. for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What Canton is like

Canton was incorporated in 1836 and is the seat of Madison County. Life downtown centers on the Historic Canton Square around the 1855 Madison County Courthouse, which the visitors bureau says is one of only seven pre-Civil War courthouses in Mississippi still in unaltered condition. The square and courthouse were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Canton calls itself the Movie Capital of Mississippi. Five feature films have been made here since 1995, including A Time to Kill, My Dog Skip and O Brother, Where Art Thou? You can also visit the Canton Train Museum in the 1926 depot and the Canton Multicultural Center and Museum.

The Canton Flea Market and Nissan

The Canton Flea Market Arts & Crafts Show fills the square on the second Thursday of May and October. It started in 1965 with local artists hanging paintings on the courthouse fence, and the visitors bureau says it now draws up to 100,000 visitors a year. The 2026 dates were May 14 and October 8.

Nissan's Canton plant began operations in 2003 and sits just outside the southwest city limits. It has about 4.7 million square feet of manufacturing space and around 3,700 employees.

A Canton address isn't always the City of Canton

This is the big thing to know when you shop here. Homes inside the city are mostly in the Canton Public School District, which earned a C for 2025-26. But a lot of newer subdivisions with Canton 39046 addresses, especially south of town toward Gluckstadt, are zoned to Madison County School District schools, which earned an A.

That split shows up in prices too. The Census median home value for the City of Canton is $112,000, while new builds in subdivisions like Glenwild and Woodgate have listed from about $345,000 to $460,000 in 2026. We toured a new home in Glenwild that was listed at $412,000. Always check the school zone and city limits for the exact address.

Neighborhoods in and around Canton

Schools

Most of the City of Canton is in the Canton Public School District, rated C for 2025-26 (it kept its C while gaining points). Many newer subdivisions with Canton addresses are zoned to the Madison County School District, rated A. Check zoning by address.

Getting around

Check it yourself

Niche grades as of October 24, 2026. They change, so click through for the latest. We share these so you can see the data for yourself; we don't rate neighborhoods.

Homes we're featuring in Canton

Questions about living in Canton

What school district is Canton in?

Most of the City of Canton is in the Canton Public School District, which earned a C for 2025-26. Many newer subdivisions with Canton addresses, like Glenwild and Woodgate, are zoned to the A-rated Madison County School District, so check the exact address.

When is the Canton Flea Market?

It's held on the Historic Canton Square on the second Thursday of May and October. The 2026 dates were May 14 and October 8.

What do homes cost in Canton?

Inside the city, the Census median home value is $112,000 (2020-2024). Based on MLS data, the median sold price for homes with Canton addresses, which includes subdivisions outside city limits, was $299,900 in September 2026 (23 sales). New builds in subdivisions with Canton addresses, like Glenwild and Woodgate, listed from about $345,000 to $460,000 in 2026.

How far is Canton from Jackson?

Canton is about 23 miles north of the State Capitol and about 21 miles from the airport in a straight line. Road miles are longer.

Thinking about Canton?

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Call or text (601) 292-6070 · Office (228) 471-5211 · Jared Laster and Charles Lacey, licensed Mississippi real estate agents with Real Broker, LLC.