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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Cape Girardeau

Missouri · 34,438 residents · 29.3 sq mi
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The short version

With 34,438 people, Cape Girardeau is a city in Missouri. The average commute runs 13 minutes. The typical home is worth $58,000. Owners hold 57% of the housing stock. Households take in $22,634 at the median, 25% less than the US figure. 18.0% of people here live below the federal poverty line.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 30.6
US median: 33.0
More educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 14%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

34,438
−3%vs 2000
vs 35,349 in 2000
1990 – 2025
30.6
−9%vs 2000
vs 33.6 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
29.3 sq mi
Population, 19902024
34K36K37K39K41K19902000201020202024Cape Girardeau
202440K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.2%(2,127)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96%(2,063)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145.6%(1,915)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 199.6%(3,293)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 2413.6%(4,675)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.2%(5,223)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4412.2%(4,194)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.3%(3,188)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648%(2,747)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 747.5%(2,588)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845.2%(1,777)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.9%(648)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$22,634
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $32,452 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$12,254
−35%vs 2000
vs $18,918 in 2000
US average: $14,340
18.0%
+2.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 15.2% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$58,000
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $88,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$331
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $436 in 2000
US average: $450
57.4%
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 57.3% in 2000
42.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.7%(30,650)
Black9.3%(3,276)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(388)
Asian1.1%(396)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic90.3%(31,104)
Black7.6%(2,630)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(218)
Asian1.4%(498)
Other0.6%(206)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.6%(1,038)
Puerto Rican0.2%(66)
Dominican0.1%(59)
Salvadoran0.1%(49)
Honduran0.1%(28)
Panamanian0.1%(28)
Spaniard0.1%(22)
Cuban0%(15)
Asian origin
Japanese0.6%(261)
Asian Indian0.6%(232)
Chinese0.5%(189)
Vietnamese0.3%(122)
Sri Lankan0.2%(96)
Filipino0.1%(53)
Nepalese0.1%(43)
Bangladeshi0.1%(36)
Burmese0.1%(23)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(34)
Ancestry
German20.1%(8,121)
English8.9%(3,587)
Irish8.7%(3,500)
American6.6%(2,676)
Italian2%(806)
Scottish2%(804)
French1.9%(774)
Dutch1.3%(508)
Polish1.1%(435)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(375)
Russian0.9%(364)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.8%(312)
Swedish0.6%(244)
Norwegian0.4%(174)
Israeli0.4%(144)
Canadian0.3%(135)
British0.3%(123)
Czech0.2%(80)
Danish0.2%(77)
Austrian0.2%(67)
Arab0.2%(64)
Egyptian0.2%(64)
Swiss0.2%(61)
Iranian0.1%(58)
Ukrainian0.1%(54)
Brazilian0.1%(43)
Greek0.1%(39)
Nigerian0.1%(30)
Croatian0%(19)
Romanian0%(17)
Slovak0%(15)
Belgian0%(10)
Section 05

Education

24.3%
−4.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 29.3% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
77.0%
−4.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 81.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
8.2%
−1.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 9.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.0 min
+18%vs 2000
vs 11.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married45.9%(7,313)
Married40.8%(6,501)
Widowed3.7%(583)
Divorced9.7%(1,544)
Women 15+
Never married41.1%(7,591)
Married37.7%(6,953)
Widowed9.1%(1,678)
Divorced12.1%(2,239)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

9.2%
−3.3 ptssince 2013
from 12.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
53.4%
−2.5 ptssince 2020
from 55.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
16.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 15.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
19.7%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 19.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
18.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2020
from 14.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 2.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
68.3%
−3.1 ptssince 2020
from 71.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
35.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2020
from 32.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.1%(514)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)16.6%(355)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era39.6%(846)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.3%(135)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.8%(18)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 2,135 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

Cape Girardeau, Missouri has about 34,438 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Cape Girardeau, Missouri earns about $22,634 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 $58,000, and the typical rent is about $331 a month.

How educated are people in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?

About 24.3% 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 18.0% of people in Cape Girardeau, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →