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METRO AREA

Cape Girardeau Metro

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · 3 counties · 99,215 residents (2025 est.) · 1,431.815 sq mi
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The short version

Cape Girardeau has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,900. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $208,311.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
98,169
+9%since 2000
from 90,312 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
69 / sq mi
+9%since 2000
from 63 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.4
+7%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:99,215 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
81K86K91K95K100K1990201020202024Cape Girardeau
202498K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.4%(5,344)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.5%(5,410)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(6,489)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.4%(7,230)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.9%(8,725)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.3%(12,049)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.7%(11,533)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.2%(11,015)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.4%(12,161)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.8%(10,592)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.7%(5,599)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.1%(2,022)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,900
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,553 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,681
+96%since 2000
from $17,667 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.2%
+22.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.2%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.455
+5%since 2010
from 0.432 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration4.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$208,311
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,531 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$850
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $408 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
31.0% rent
Vacancy rate
12.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+9%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
66
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cape Girardeau on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(80,608)
Black7.7%(6,970)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(830)
Asian0.6%(571)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.6%(82,101)
Black7.9%(7,802)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(2,647)
Asian1.4%(1,387)
Other4.3%(4,232)
Diversity Score
36
+44%since 2009
from 25 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
36
−10%since 2020
from 40 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.6%(1,589)
Puerto Rican0.3%(261)
Paraguayan0.2%(164)
Ecuadorian0.7%(72)
Dominican0.1%(59)
Colombian0.1%(57)
Peruvian0.1%(53)
Salvadoran0.1%(49)
Honduran0%(28)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Spaniard0%(22)
Cuban0%(15)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.4%(338)
Japanese0.3%(296)
Chinese0.3%(265)
Filipino0.2%(152)
Vietnamese0.1%(122)
Sri Lankan0.1%(96)
Nepalese0.1%(43)
Burmese0%(23)
Thai0%(9)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(34)
Ancestry
German24%(23,600)
English9.9%(9,713)
Irish8.5%(8,354)
American7.4%(7,276)
Scottish1.7%(1,659)
Dutch1.6%(1,619)
French1.5%(1,512)
Italian1.4%(1,342)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(916)
Polish0.7%(715)
Welsh0.6%(550)
+ 30 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.4%(418)
Russian0.4%(373)
Norwegian0.4%(346)
Swiss0.4%(302)
British0.2%(223)
Czech0.2%(144)
Israeli0.2%(144)
Canadian0.2%(137)
Austrian0.1%(119)
Danish0.1%(110)
Greek0.1%(91)
Arab0.1%(77)
Brazilian0.1%(72)
Egyptian0.1%(64)
Iranian0.1%(58)
Nigerian0.1%(54)
Ukrainian0.1%(54)
Hungarian0%(31)
Slovak0%(25)
Belgian0%(22)
Romanian0%(21)
Croatian0%(19)
Bulgarian0%(15)
Armenian0%(13)
Serbian0%(13)
West Indian0.3%(13)
Jamaican0.3%(13)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.0%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 20.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+14.0 ptssince 2000
from 78.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.0%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.8 min
+51%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.0%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 7.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.4%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 63.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.0%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 61.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−40.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2012
from 15.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.5%
−80.2 ptssince 2013
from 87.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.2%
+14.4 ptssince 2017
from 72.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 97.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35%(13,716)
Married51.7%(20,223)
Widowed3.8%(1,480)
Divorced9.5%(3,727)
Women 15+
Never married30%(12,545)
Married49.5%(20,673)
Widowed8.9%(3,706)
Divorced11.6%(4,856)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

Cape GirardeauCENTRAL40,977Jackson16,033Scott City4,593Cairo1,515Marble Hill1,380Gordonville626Olive Branch499Delta382Tamms373Millersville280East Cape Girardeau251Oak Ridge239McClure223Sedgewickville192Dutchtown187Thebes181Burfordville147Shawneetown122Pocahontas97Allenville94Whitewater86Unity77Old Appleton75Glen Allen66Zalma50New Wells0
What's inside

3 component counties

Cape Girardeau CountyCENTRAL83,999Bollinger County10,646Alexander County4,570
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Cape Girardeau

Lima
Pop 100,881
Corning
Pop 91,855
Hermiston
Pop 93,721
Adrian
Pop 97,779
Places similar to Cape Girardeau
Head to head

Compare Cape Girardeau side by side

CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Lima
Income$64,038−4%
Home value$165,300−21%
Population100,881+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Corning
Income$65,887−2%
Home value$137,900−34%
Population91,855−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Hermiston
Income$68,757+3%
Home value$276,973+33%
Population93,721−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Adrian
Income$70,518+5%
Home value$196,800−6%
Population97,779−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL has about 98,169 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

The typical household in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL earns about $66,900 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cape Girardeau, MO-IL expensive?

In Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, the median home is worth about $208,311, and the typical rent is about $850 a month.

How educated are people in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

About 30.0% of adults age 25 and over in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL?

About 14.2% of people in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cape Girardeau, MO-IL grown since 1990?

Yes, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,291 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →