The Canton metro is home to 400,495 people (down 0.1% over five years), with a median household income of $65,666. Typical rent of $1,141/month works out to 20.9% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Canton's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 23.5% |
| Manufacturing | 16.9% |
| Retail trade | 12.1% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.8% |
| Professional & management | 8.5% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 20.9% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Canton market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,141/month suggests a household income around $46,000/year. The metro's median household income is $65,666.
By workforce share: Education & health care (23.5%), Manufacturing (16.9%), Retail trade (12.1%) (Census ACS 5-year).