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COUNTY

Cape Girardeau County

Missouri · 83,999 residents (2025 est.) · 578.517 sq mi
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The short version

Cape Girardeau County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,464. Population has grown 20% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $220,700.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
82,735
+20%since 2000
from 68,693 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
143 / sq mi
+20%since 2000
from 119 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.1
+5%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:83,999 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
60K66K72K79K85K1990201020202024Cape Girardeau County
202483K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,464
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,458 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,813
+93%since 2000
from $18,593 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.1%
+21.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
+7%since 2010
from 0.429 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade4.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$220,700
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$881
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 68.4% in 2000
33.2% rent
Vacancy rate
10.1%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.7%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 41.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+28%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
52
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cape Girardeau County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.6%(62,926)
Black5.3%(3,607)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(624)
Asian0.7%(511)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.5%(11,357)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.6%(69,142)
Black7.4%(6,109)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(2,439)
Asian1.6%(1,361)
Other4.5%(3,684)
Diversity Score36.6%(30,304)
Segregation Score32.6%(26,984)
Diversity Score
37
+122%since 2000
from 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
33
−9%since 2020
from 36 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.1%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 24.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 81.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.0%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 7.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.5 min
+61%since 2000
from 12.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 82.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.0%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 66.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.4%
−24.1 ptssince 2009
from 63.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−41.0 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2012
from 13.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.4%
−80.9 ptssince 2013
from 88.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.5%
+12.5 ptssince 2017
from 77.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 96.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Cape Girardeau County

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Pop 88,122
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Pop 87,599
Howard County
Pop 83,904
Bannock County
Pop 91,591
Places similar to Cape Girardeau County
Head to head

Compare Cape Girardeau County to nearby counties

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY VS
Bollinger County
Income$63,814−7%
Home value$179,800−19%
Population10,646−87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY VS
Alexander County
Income$47,043−31%
Home value$59,800−73%
Population4,570−95%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY VS
Perry County
Income$62,981−8%
Home value$188,200−15%
Population19,093−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY VS
Scott County
Income$62,782−8%
Home value$154,400−30%
Population37,975−55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri?

Cape Girardeau County, Missouri has about 82,735 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri earns about $68,464 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cape Girardeau County, Missouri expensive?

In Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $220,700, and the typical rent is about $881 a month.

How educated are people in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri?

About 33.1% of adults age 25 and over in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri?

About 13.9% of people in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cape Girardeau County, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 21,102 residents, a change of about 34 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

19 census tracts
Census Tract 8806Census Tract 8812Census Tract 8801Census Tract 8804.01Census Tract 8805.01Census Tract 8803Census Tract 8807Census Tract 8815Census Tract 8808Census Tract 8802Census Tract 8811Census Tract 8805.02Census Tract 8813.01Census Tract 8816Census Tract 8813.02Census Tract 8810Census Tract 8804.02Census Tract 8809Census Tract 8814
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 63701ZIP 63755ZIP 63703ZIP 63766ZIP 63769ZIP 63785ZIP 63747ZIP 63739ZIP 63744ZIP 63745ZIP 63743
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →