City · Missouri
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau, city, in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Cape Girardeau had 40,977 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 39,540 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 40,344 (±70). GEOID 2911242.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
40,977
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 39,540 · ACS 2020-2024: 40,344 ±70
Median household income
$55,658
±$2,313 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$196,300
±$11,289 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$876
±$45 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Cape Girardeau and what county is it in?
Cape Girardeau is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. It covers 29.3 square miles of land, 1,351 residents per square mile in 2020.
Cape Girardeau is in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau County | 39,540 | 100.0% |
| Scott County | land only, no residents | – |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Cape Girardeau, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 40,977 people lived in Cape Girardeau on July 1, 2025, up 3.6% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020 Census counted 39,540 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 40,344 (±70).
| Measure | Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 40,344 ±70 | 82,735 | +778 |
| Households | 16,364 ±464 | 32,454 | +1,104 |
| Average household size | 2.27 ±0.07 | 2.44 | −0.14 |
| Housing units | 18,745 ±369 | 36,086 | +756 |
Cape Girardeau's population since 2000
From 35,349 in 2000 to 40,977 in 2025: up 15.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Cape Girardeau as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Cape Girardeau?
The median resident of Cape Girardeau is 34.5 years old; 17.4% are under 18 and 19.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 75.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 13.2%. 3.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 ±1.4 | 37.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.4% ±1.2 pts | 21.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.7% ±1.0 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Male | 47.3% ±1.2 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.7% ±0.7 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 75.2% ±1.4 pts | 83.6% | −3.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 13.2% ±1.3 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.4% ±1.3 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.9% ±0.8 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.7% ±1.1 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.4% ±1.0 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 16.2% ±1.7 pts | 14.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.2% ±1.5 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.4% ±1.8 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 34.9% ±2.6 pts | 33.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.9% ±1.9 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 79.4% ±2.4 pts | 84.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.8% ±1.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Cape Girardeau earn?
Half of Cape Girardeau's 16,364 households earn less than $55,658 a year (±$2,313), against $68,464 in Cape Girardeau County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $56,283 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,658 ±$2,313 | $68,464 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $78,915 ±$5,256 | $89,147 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,930 ±$2,162 | $35,813 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 20.8% ±2.4 pts | 13.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.8% ±6.2 pts | 14.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.2% ±2.1 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.9% ±2.1 pts | 94.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.4% ±2.5 pts | 89.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Cape Girardeau?
Owners occupy 54.0% of Cape Girardeau's occupied homes and renters 46.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $196,300 by its owner (±$11,289). The median renter pays $876 a month including utilities, and 38.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $196,300 ±$11,289 | $220,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $876 ±$45 | $881 | −$101 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.3% ±5.8 pts | 36.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,369 ±$47 | $1,408 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.0% ±2.9 pts | 66.8% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 46.0% ±2.9 pts | 33.2% | – |
| Housing units | 18,745 ±369 | 36,086 | +756 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6% ±1.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.9% ±2.5 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.2% ±2.6 pts | 71.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.6% ±0.8 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.4% ±0.8 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.3% ±1.6 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 11.7% ±1.5 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.5% ±1.9 pts | 5.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Cape Girardeau building?
Builders took permits for 45 new housing units in Cape Girardeau in 2025 (45 in single-family houses), 1.1 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Missouri.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Cape Girardeau work and get to work?
79.9% of Cape Girardeau's workers drive alone and 7.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.6%.
| Measure | Cape Girardeau | Cape Girardeau County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.1% ±1.9 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6% ±0.9 pts | 2.3% | −1.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 79.9% ±2.5 pts | 80.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.6% ±1.6 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.8% ±1.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.9% ±1.5 pts | 9.0% | +5.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.9 min ±1.4 | 19.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Cape Girardeau?
10 census tracts lie mostly in Cape Girardeau, and 5 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $18,586 (Tract 8814) to $72,639 (Tract 8812).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8812Cape Girardeau County | 6,564 | $72,639 |
| Tract 8807Cape Girardeau County | 5,635 | $69,722 |
| Tract 8808Cape Girardeau County | 4,547 | $53,287 |
| Tract 8811Cape Girardeau County | 3,986 | $61,000 |
| Tract 8813.01Cape Girardeau County | 3,689 | $68,138 |
| Tract 8816Cape Girardeau County | 2,774 | $40,471 |
| Tract 8813.02Cape Girardeau County | 2,699 | $54,397 |
| Tract 8810Cape Girardeau County | 2,659 | $34,482 |
| Tract 8809Cape Girardeau County | 2,361 | $31,729 |
| Tract 8815Cape Girardeau County | 4,558 | $82,153 |
| Tract 8814Cape Girardeau County | 2,105 | $18,586 |
| Tract 8806Cape Girardeau County | 6,824 | $79,784 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Cape Girardeau) · Census block assignment files
How does Cape Girardeau compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Cape Girardeau is the 1,008th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 17th-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Cape Girardeau ranks 230th of 416 places in Missouri with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 17th | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 123rd | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 129th | 420 |
| Median household income | 230th | 416 |
| Per capita income | 153rd | 420 |
| Median home value | 138th | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 191st | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 98th | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 83rd | 404 |
| Median age | 327th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 347th | 418 |
| Work from home | 187th | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 390th | 420 |
Cape Girardeau's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Cape Girardeau with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Cape Girardeau?
4 of the 57 figures for Cape Girardeau on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Cape Girardeau are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Cape Girardeau.