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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Cape Girardeau Metro

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · 3 counties · 97,517 residents · 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 $51,816. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $151,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 38.9
US median: 38.8
Average education
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
97,517
+8%since 2000
from 90,312 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
68 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 63 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
38.9
+9%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
81K86K91K95K100K1990201020202024Cape Girardeau
202498K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.6%(5,437)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(5,638)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.3%(6,142)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.5%(6,339)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249%(8,801)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.4%(12,072)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.5%(11,217)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.1%(10,861)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.1%(12,818)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.6%(10,353)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.7%(5,555)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.3%(2,284)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,816
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,553 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,491
+50%since 2000
from $17,667 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.7%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.4%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.7%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$151,400
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,531 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$775
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $408 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
66.2%
−4.3 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
33.8% rent
Afford Score
2.9
+2%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic82.6%(80,529)
Black8.3%(8,106)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(2,469)
Asian1.4%(1,326)
Other2.8%(2,759)
Segregation Score
40
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
Mexican1.5%(1,408)
Puerto Rican0.1%(108)
Cuban0.1%(86)
Guatemalan0.1%(81)
Honduran0.1%(60)
Dominican0%(12)
Asian origin
Chinese0.6%(480)
Japanese0.3%(221)
Filipino0.2%(160)
Nepalese0.2%(148)
Korean0.2%(122)
Asian Indian0.1%(89)
Vietnamese0.1%(82)
Laotian0%(37)
Thai0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(20)
Ancestry
German26.2%(25,267)
American14.1%(13,754)
Irish8.7%(8,445)
English8.7%(8,411)
French2.4%(2,281)
Scottish1.9%(1,778)
Dutch1.7%(1,724)
Italian1.2%(1,163)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(1,072)
Polish1%(1,014)
Welsh0.7%(647)
Swedish0.7%(621)
+ 34 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.6%(519)
Swiss0.4%(340)
British0.3%(259)
Danish0.2%(236)
Russian0.2%(213)
Czech0.2%(208)
Austrian0.2%(165)
Greek0.1%(91)
Canadian0.1%(75)
Hungarian0.1%(75)
Lithuanian0.1%(66)
Slovak0.1%(42)
Lebanese0%(35)
Belgian0%(35)
Jordanian0%(33)
Romanian0%(32)
Armenian0%(31)
Serbian0%(31)
Arab0%(27)
Syrian0.4%(26)
Moroccan0%(21)
Croatian0%(14)
Latvian0%(13)
Iranian0%(12)
Finnish0%(8)
Jamaican0.1%(7)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest French population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.5%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 20.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.4%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 78.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.0%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.3 min
+54%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
80.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 7.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 63.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
35.2%
−26.3 ptssince 2009
from 61.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
51.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.8%
−79.9 ptssince 2013
from 87.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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
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+24%
Home value$165,300+9%
Population100,881+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Corning
Income$65,887+27%
Home value$137,900−9%
Population91,855−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Hermiston
Income$68,757+33%
Home value$276,973+83%
Population93,721−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CAPE GIRARDEAU VS
Adrian
Income$70,518+36%
Home value$196,800+30%
Population97,779−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

Cape Girardeau, MO-IL has about 97,517 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL earns about $51,816 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 $151,400, and the typical rent is about $775 a month.

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

About 28.5% 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 16.4% 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 14,639 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

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