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CITY

Cape Girardeau

Missouri · 40,977 residents (2025 est.) · 29.265 sq mi
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The short version

Cape Girardeau has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $55,658. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $196,300. At a median age of 34.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 20.8% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.5
US median: 38.9
Average education
35% 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
40,344
+14%since 2000
from 35,349 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,379 / sq mi
+14%since 2000
from 1,208 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.5
+3%since 2000
from 33.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:40,977 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
34K36K37K39K41K1990201020202024Cape Girardeau
202440K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,658
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,452 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,930
+74%since 2000
from $18,918 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.2%
+15.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.8%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 15.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.485
+6%since 2010
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration5.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade2%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$196,300
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $88,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$876
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $436 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
54.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 57.3% in 2000
46.0% rent
Vacancy rate
12.7%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 44.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.5
+29%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
43
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cape Girardeau on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.7%(30,650)
Black9.3%(3,276)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(388)
Asian1.1%(396)
Other0%
Diversity Score26.4%(9,327)
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.2%(30,356)
Black13.2%(5,313)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(1,502)
Asian2.6%(1,057)
Other5.2%(2,116)
Diversity Score51.5%(20,761)
Diversity Score
51
+95%since 2000
from 26 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.9%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 29.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.4%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 81.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.9%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.9 min
+44%since 2000
from 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.6%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.9%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 63.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.7%
−25.6 ptssince 2009
from 65.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
52.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
3.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−40.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 13.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.2%
−78.3 ptssince 2013
from 87.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.4%
+10.9 ptssince 2017
from 76.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 95.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 1.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
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CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
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CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

Cape Girardeau, Missouri has about 40,344 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

The typical household in Cape Girardeau, Missouri earns about $55,658 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cape Girardeau, Missouri expensive?

In Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the median home is worth about $196,300, and the typical rent is about $876 a month.

How educated are people in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

About 34.9% of adults age 25 and over in Cape Girardeau, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

About 20.8% of people in Cape Girardeau, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cape Girardeau, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Cape Girardeau, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,906 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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

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