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CITY

East Cape Girardeau

Illinois · 251 residents (2025 est.) · 1.961 sq mi
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The short version

East Cape Girardeau has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,188. Population has fallen 35% since 2000, a loss of 154 residents. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $62,500. The poverty rate of 29.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 49% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
283
−35%since 2000
from 437 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
144 / sq mi
−35%since 2000
from 223 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.3
+1%since 2000
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:251 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2443614785947111990201020202024East Cape Girardeau
2024283
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,188
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,688 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,627
+50%since 2000
from $14,420 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
12.3%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
29.0%
+18.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.410
+5%since 2010
from 0.390 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information24.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade12.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance9.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade7.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services6.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$62,500
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$930
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $375 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
64.0%
−11.5 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
36.0% rent
Vacancy rate
39.0%
+24.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.9%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 31.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.5
+32%since 2000
from 1.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
7
RELATED:See current rent listings in East Cape Girardeau on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(420)
Black0.7%(3)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(10)
Asian0.2%(1)
Other0%
Diversity Score7.9%(34)
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.4%(253)
Black1.4%(4)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian3.2%(9)
Other6%(17)
Diversity Score24.5%(69)
Diversity Score
24
+212%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.3%
+10.9 ptssince 2000
from 76.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.6%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 0.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.6 min
+22%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.4%
−10.0 ptssince 2009
from 84.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
17.1%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.5%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
16.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2011
from 15.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
48.0%
−18.7 ptssince 2011
from 66.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.8%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
6.1%
−57.7 ptssince 2009
from 63.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
54.1%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
Female
45.9%
−8.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
Foreign born
4.6%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.3%
−39.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2012
from 19.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
15.9%
−64.4 ptssince 2013
from 80.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
66.7%
+20.3 ptssince 2017
from 46.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.5%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 98.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare East Cape Girardeau to nearby cities

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Cape Girardeau
Income$55,658+32%
Home value$196,300+214%
Population40,977+16225%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Jackson
Income$77,105+83%
Home value$240,000+284%
Population16,033+6288%
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EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Sikeston
Income$58,915+40%
Home value$168,800+170%
Population15,983+6268%
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EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Carbondale
Income$32,128−24%
Home value$127,900+105%
Population21,811+8590%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois?

East Cape Girardeau, Illinois has about 283 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois?

The typical household in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois earns about $42,188 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is East Cape Girardeau, Illinois expensive?

In East Cape Girardeau, Illinois, the median home is worth about $62,500, and the typical rent is about $930 a month.

How educated are people in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois?

About 12.2% of adults age 25 and over in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois?

About 29.0% of people in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has East Cape Girardeau, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, East Cape Girardeau, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 144 residents, a change of about -34 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

East Cape Girardeau, Illinois: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy