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METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Cape Girardeau Metro

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · 3 counties · 82,878 residents · 1,432 sq mi
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The short version

Cape Girardeau is home to 82,878 people. The typical home is worth $48,594. Renters pay $296 a month at the median. Median household income is $22,612, under the $30,130 national median. 70% of homes are owner-occupied. About 16% of adults have finished a four-year degree.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.0
US median: 33.0
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 21%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
82,878
−8%vs 2000
vs 90,312 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
58 / sq mi
−8%vs 2000
vs 63 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
33.0
−8%vs 2000
vs 35.9 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
1,432 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
81K86K91K95K100K19902000201020202024Cape Girardeau
202498K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.9%(5,758)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.9%(5,688)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.8%(5,666)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.2%(6,770)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 249.1%(7,520)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.2%(12,563)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4413.4%(11,146)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.2%(8,415)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 648.6%(7,108)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748%(6,670)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845%(4,127)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.7%(1,447)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$22,612
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $34,553 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,074
−37%vs 2000
vs $17,667 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
17.0%
+3.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 13.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$48,594
−21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $81,531 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$296
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $408 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
69.6%
−0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 70.5% in 2000
30.4% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(80,608)
Black7.7%(6,970)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(830)
Asian0.6%(571)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic91.3%(75,696)
Black7.6%(6,298)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(478)
Asian0.7%(574)
Other0.4%(310)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

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)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
−3.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 20.1% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
69.7%
−8.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 78.2% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
5.2%
−1.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 6.5% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.6 min
+36%vs 2000
vs 14.4 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 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
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
7.5%
−4.9 ptssince 2013
from 12.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
56.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 57.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
14.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 16.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
20.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 19.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
17.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 14.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 2.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
69.9%
−2.9 ptssince 2020
from 72.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
35.3%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 32.1% 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)18.1%(951)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)18.1%(953)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era43.6%(2,292)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.7%(245)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.4%(20)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 5,260 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
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+183%
Home value$165,300+240%
Population100,881+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Corning
Income$65,887+191%
Home value$137,900+184%
Population91,855−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Hermiston
Income$68,757+204%
Home value$276,973+470%
Population93,721−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Adrian
Income$70,518+212%
Home value$196,800+305%
Population97,779−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL has about 82,878 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL earns about $22,612 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 $48,594, and the typical rent is about $296 a month.

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

About 16.1% 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 17.0% of people in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL live below the federal poverty line.

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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 →