Data, News & Reports
Data, News and Reports
Look no further! Here is where you will find information about our Town and Village. On this page, we provide demographics, information about the business climate, information of interest to retailers, and publications of the Economic Development office.
Demographics
The following demographics and statistics are taken from the April 2000 US Census, unless otherwise noted. The geographic boundaries of the Town of Canton are inclusive of the Village of Canton; therefore the numbers shown for the Town include the Village. Likewise, the totals shown for St. Lawrence County include the Town of Canton.
The population of Canton includes many life-long residents, as well as new local residents and a continually changing student population.
Total Population
| Village | 5,882 |
| Town | 10,334 |
| County | 111,931 |
Population Distribution by Age
| Village | Town | County | |
| Under 15 years | 10.0% | 15.2% | 19.0% |
| 15 to 19 years | 22.1% | 16.3% | 9.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 25.9% | 16.9% | 8.9% |
| 25 to 34 years | 8.3% | 9.7% | 12.2% |
| 35 to 44 years | 8.4% | 12.1% | 15.2% |
| 45 to 59 years | 11.3% | 15.1% | 18.3% |
| 60 years and older | 13.9% | 14.7% | 17.2% |
| Median Age (Years) | 21.9 | 26.9 | 35.4 |
| Village | 1,531 |
| Town | 3,198 |
| County | 40,506 |
| Village | 2.13 persons |
| Town | 2.40 persons |
| County | 2.49 persons |
| Village | 1,680 |
| Town | 13,515 |
| County | 49,721 |
| Village | $74,400 |
| Town | $68,500 |
| County | $60,200 |
| Village | $423 |
| Town | $439 |
| County | $428 |
Annual Household Income (In 1999)
Educational Attainment of Population 25 years & Over
| Village | Town | County | |
| Less than 9th grade | 2.5% | 5.1% | 6.7% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma | 6.8% | 9.5% | 14.1% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 18.5% | 26.3% | 37.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 14.0% | 15.1% | 15.6% |
| Associate degree | 13.7% | 12.8% | 9.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.4% | 13.1% | 8.5% |
| Graduate or professional degree | 26.2% | 18.0% | 7.9% |
Unemployment Rates
| Village | 20.0% |
| Town | 14.6% |
| County | 8.5% |
| Village | 15.6% |
| Town | 12.4% |
| County | 12.4% |
| NY State | 14.6% |
| US | 16.9% |
Business Climate & Existing Industry
Major industries in Canton include agriculture, education and government.
Canton is in large part a professional community. The working environment in Canton includes many government and finance professionals, as well as those in architecture, law, insurance and engineering.
In Canton, you’ll find an economy based on a broad mix of education, agriculture, manufacturing, government, retail, services and small business. Our combination of 10,000 lifelong and new local residents, plus a continually changing student population of 5,000, also offers a great base for test marketing, diversifying, or filling a variety of staffing needs.
Canton is a great place for all companies-small and large-and a wonderful location for emerging entrepreneurs.
More information coming soon!
Retail Market Customer Base
A College Market
Due to local college enrollments, 48 percent of the village population is between the ages of 15 to 24.
Together, Canton and neighboring Potsdam have four colleges. Not only does this mean that we have a lot of students who routinely shop, eat out and recreate in Canton, but many visitors and parents make their way to Canton during the year for major sporting events, parents’ weekends, and to explore the area!
- St. Lawrence University, a private liberal arts college located in Canton has 2,100 students
- SUNY Canton, also located in Canton has 3,000 students
- SUNY Potsdam, located 10 miles away has 4,070 students
- Clarkston University, a private liberal arts college in Potsdam has 2,900 students
Visitors
Our area is a great place to visit, and we have more people who come here each year. With fabulous outdoor recreation opportunities, many nearby tourist destinations including the Adirondack and the Thousand Islands, and our proximity to Canada you will benefit from all the extra traffic. Furthermore, we have several tourist destinations of our own, including two 18-hole golf courses and three indoor ice arenas including the Appleton Ice Arena at St. Lawrence University, which features Division 1 Hockey. The Canton Recreational Pavilion is also available for ice time. In addition, there are always families visiting the colleges, and sports enthusiasts in town to cheer on local sports teams.
