Census Data for Canton

Population ...

The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Canton a population of 23,817 people.

The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Canton a population of 21,561 people.

The community of Canton is located in Norfolk County. The 2010 Census gave Norfolk County; a population of 670,850 people. This means that Canton had 3.21% of the county's total population, making it Norfolk's 14th most populous community.

At the same time, Massachusetts had a population of 6,547,629 people, meaning that Canton had 0.33% of the total population of Massachusetts - making it the state's 89th most populous community.

Area ...

The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Canton has a total area of 19.61 square miles [50.8 km²]. Of this total, 18.8 square miles [48.7 km²] is land, with the balance (4.16%) being water (0.82 square miles [2.1 km²]).

Norfolk County has a land area of 396.1 square miles [1,025.9 km²]. At 18.8 square miles [48.7 km²], Canton has 4.75% of the county's total land area.

• Continue Reading ...
  • When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like Canton, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the community.
  • Things like population, area and housing for Canton reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Canton might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
  • More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Housing Units ...

At the time of the 2010 Census, Canton had 8,762 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 21,561 people, this averages 2.46 people per Housing Unit.

• Continue Reading ...
  • The 2010 Census shows Canton had a land area of 18.8 square miles [48.7 km²]. This translates to 446.7 Housing Units per square mile [172.5 housing units/km²].
  • From the Census of 2000: Canton had 8,163 Housing Units, a population of 20,775 people and a land area of 18.93 square miles [49 km²]. This gives a density of 2.55 people per Housing Unit and 417 Housing Units per square mile [161 housing units/km²].
  • Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Canton and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Norfolk County ...

Canton is located in Norfolk County<4>.

The county had a population of 670,850 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 21,561 people, Canton represented 3.21% of the county's total.

In addition, where the community of Canton has a population density of 1,099 people per square mile [424.5 people/km²], Norfolk County averages 1,693 people per square mile [653 people/km²].

For more information, please visit our Census Page for Norfolk County.

Census-to-Census Observations ...

Introduction ...

When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Canton, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Canton. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.

• Continue Reading ...
  • Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Canton or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
  • If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.

Location ...

While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Canton, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Canton.

• Continue Reading ...
  • For the 2000 Censuses, the location was given as:

  Lat:   42.165268°   (or 42°9'54" N)

  Lon:   -71.130462°   (or -71°7'49" W)

  • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#619457) to Canton. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Canton. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
  • Lat:   42.158432°   (or 42°9'30" N)
  • Lon:   -71.144773°   (or -71°8'41" W)
  • The GPS location given for the 2000 Census lies 4,601 feet to the northeast<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Canton. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Canton.

Miscellaneous Information for Canton ...

The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Norfolk County or the community of Canton:

• The GNIS Codes ...
  • The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to Canton:
  • GNIS ID for Canton: 619457
  • GNIS ID for Norfolk County: 606937
  • GNIS ID for State of Massachusetts: 606926

• The FIPS Codes ...
  • An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
  • State Code: 25 (Massachusetts)
  • County Code: 021 (Norfolk County)
  • Place Code: 11350 (Canton)
  • State & County Code: 25/021 (Massachusetts / Norfolk County)
  • State & Place Code: 25/11350 (Massachusetts / Canton)

• Misc. Census Codes ...
  • Canton is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #1 (the New England Division).

• The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
  • While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a community like Canton, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Canton. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
  • The ZIP code for Canton:02021<6>

• Census ZCTA Codes ...
  • The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
  • ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.

For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Canton.

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Canton: www.town.canton.ma.us/

The official website for Norfolk County: www.norfolkcounty.org/

The official website for State of Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/

The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau

The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)

The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)