County · Missouri

Cape Girardeau County, Missouri

Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Cape Girardeau County had 83,999 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.8% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). It holds 15 places (10 cities, villages and boroughs and 5 census-designated) and 19 census tracts. GEOID 29031.

Cape Girardeau County is one of the 3 counties of the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

83,999

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 81,710 · ACS 2020-2024: 82,735

Median household income

$68,464

±$3,198 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702

Median home value

$220,700

±$7,640 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300

Median gross rent

$881

±$37 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033

How many people live in Cape Girardeau County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 81,710 residents in Cape Girardeau County. The Census Bureau estimates 83,999 for July 1, 2025, up 2.8% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 82,735 over 579 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +325 (82,136)
2021→2022 +741 (82,877)
2022→2023 +92 (82,969)
2023→2024 +488 (83,457)
2024→2025 +542 (83,999)

Cape Girardeau County in Missouri. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Cape Girardeau County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	82,735	6,191,814	+4,244
Households	32,454±482	2,508,227	+2,860
Average household size	2.44±0.04	2.40	−0.10
Housing units	36,086±108	2,825,287	+2,136

Cape Girardeau County's population since 2000

From 68,693 in 2000 to 83,999 in 2025: up 22.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 68,693
2005 (estimate) 71,793
2010 Census 75,674
2015 (estimate) 78,297
2020 Census 81,710
2025 (estimate) 83,999

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Cape Girardeau County?

Cape Girardeau County holds 15 places: 10 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 5 census-designated places. The largest is Cape Girardeau with 40,977 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Cape Girardeau County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Cape Girardeau	city	39,540	40,344±70	$55,658	$196,300	20.8%	100%
Jackson	city	15,481	15,659±61	$77,105	$240,000	8.6%	100%
Gordonville	village	625	473±111	$82,750	$241,500	1.5%	100%
DeltaGEOID 2919072	city	376	532±342	$45,625	$119,400	6.2%	100%
MillersvilleGEOID 2948350	CDP	240	280±262	$75,781	$145,300	0.0%	100%
Oak RidgeGEOID 2953786	town	237	298±135	$71,458	$131,300	4.7%	100%
DutchtownGEOID 2920566	CDP	163	187±166	$86,111	$154,200	2.1%	100%
ShawneetownGEOID 2967124	CDP	132	122±153	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
PocahontasGEOID 2958628	town	97	55±41	$106,875	$142,900	3.6%	100%
AllenvilleGEOID 2900748	village	95	127±63	$51,071	$82,500	25.6%	100%
WhitewaterGEOID 2979612	town	88	64±32	$49,038	$105,100	1.6%	100%
BurfordvilleGEOID 2909784	CDP	87	147±162	not published	not published	8.2%	100%
Old AppletonGEOID 2954200	town	73	109±81	$54,306	$79,100	4.6%	100%
New WellsGEOID 2952364	CDP	40	0±12	not published	not published	–	100%
Scott City	city	4,346	4,371±26	$62,599	$147,500	11.2%	0%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Cape Girardeau County?

The median resident of Cape Girardeau County is 37.1 years old; 21.3% are under 18 and 17.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 7.4%. 2.4% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Cape Girardeau County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	37.1±0.3	39.0	+0.6
Under 18 years	21.3%	22.3%	–
65 years and over	17.8%±0.1 pts	17.9%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.9%	5.2%	+0.6 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	83.6%±0.4 pts	76.3%	−2.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	7.4%±0.6 pts	10.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.6%±0.3 pts	2.1%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.2%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.9%±0.7 pts	4.8%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	2.4%±0.4 pts	4.5%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	3.6%±0.6 pts	6.7%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.5%±0.7 pts	7.3%	–
With a disability	14.6%±0.9 pts	14.9%	–
No health insurance coverage	7.4%±0.9 pts	8.8%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.6%±0.9 pts	91.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	33.1%±1.8 pts	32.4%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	12.0%±1.2 pts	12.6%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.5%±0.6 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 County earn?

Half of Cape Girardeau County's 32,454 households earn less than $68,464 a year (±$3,198), against $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $66,128 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cape Girardeau County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$68,464±$3,198	$70,702	no clear change
Mean household income	$89,147±$3,543	$96,247	–
Per capita income	$35,813±$1,367	$39,695	no clear change
People below the poverty line	13.9%±1.5 pts	12.6%	−2.5 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	14.0%±3.5 pts	15.8%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	9.8%±1.4 pts	9.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	89.5%±1.5 pts	89.3%	–

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 County?

Owners occupy 66.8% of Cape Girardeau County's occupied homes and renters 33.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $220,700 by its owner (±$7,640). The median renter pays $881 a month including utilities, and 36.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cape Girardeau County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$220,700±$7,640	$230,300	+$23,174
Median gross rent	$881±$37	$1,033	−$113
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	36.8%±4.7 pts	36.6%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,408±$36	$1,524	–
Owner-occupied homes	66.8%±1.8 pts	68.1%	no clear change
Housing units	36,086±108	2,825,287	+2,136
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.2%±0.8 pts	0.9%	–
Rental vacancy rate	7.5%±2.3 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	71.2%±1.6 pts	70.5%	–
Mobile homes	5.1%±0.8 pts	5.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	2.0%±0.6 pts	1.6%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	9.2%±1.0 pts	13.3%	–

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 County building?

Builders took permits for 99 new housing units across Cape Girardeau County in 2025 (99 single-family), 1.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 794 units
2020 141 units
2021 177 units
2022 94 units
2023 79 units
2024 80 units
2025 99 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Cape Girardeau County get to work?

80.7% of Cape Girardeau County's workers drive alone and 9.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cape Girardeau County	Missouri	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	64.7%±1.3 pts	63.1%	–
Unemployment rate	2.3%±0.6 pts	4.0%	−2.2 pts
Drove alone to work	80.7%±1.8 pts	74.8%	–
Carpooled	7.4%±1.2 pts	8.1%	–
Public transportation	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.8%	–
Walked	1.7%±0.5 pts	1.8%	–
Worked from home	9.0%±1.4 pts	13.0%	+5.7 pts
Mean travel time to work	19.5 min±0.9	23.5 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 are Cape Girardeau County's census tracts?

Cape Girardeau County is divided into 19 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $18,586 (Tract 8814) to $87,821 (Tract 8805.01).

Census tracts of Cape Girardeau County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 880129031880100	Oak Ridge (3%)	6,095	6,354±611	$85,625	$246,800	$859	5.0%
Tract 880229031880200	Millersville (7%)	4,133	4,160±538	$69,205	$192,600	$1,076	9.8%
Tract 880329031880300	Delta (7%)	5,273	5,662±564	$78,750	$216,500	$992	5.3%
Tract 8804.0129031880401	Jackson (70%)	5,778	5,901±662	$82,237	$254,200	$997	8.7%
Tract 8804.0229031880402	Jackson (90%)	2,500	2,500±362	$66,010	$210,100	$850	7.1%
Tract 8805.0129031880501	Jackson (83%)	5,536	5,817±664	$87,821	$232,100	$892	6.2%
Tract 8805.0229031880502	Jackson (75%)	4,283	3,940±400	$70,547	$253,900	$697	8.5%
Tract 880629031880600	Cape Girardeau (21%)	7,583	6,824±892	$79,784	$291,500	$942	14.5%
Tract 880729031880700	Cape Girardeau (89%)	5,025	5,635±611	$69,722	$239,000	$814	14.4%
Tract 880829031880800	Cape Girardeau	4,347	4,547±443	$53,287	$137,400	$1,018	34.9%
Tract 880929031880900	Cape Girardeau (94%)	2,561	2,361±394	$31,729	$114,700	$744	28.1%
Tract 881029031881000	Cape Girardeau (98%)	1,749	2,659±675	$34,482	$136,800	$768	33.1%
Tract 881129031881100	Cape Girardeau	3,229	3,986±562	$61,000	$161,900	$1,114	21.8%
Tract 881229031881200	Cape Girardeau (96%)	6,794	6,564±686	$72,639	$220,300	$997	6.8%
Tract 8813.0129031881301	Cape Girardeau	3,804	3,689±449	$68,138	$218,300	$826	11.5%
Tract 8813.0229031881302	Cape Girardeau	2,511	2,699±360	$54,397	$196,400	$863	14.7%
Tract 881429031881400	Cape Girardeau (86%)	2,429	2,105±396	$18,586	$104,800	$720	46.8%
Tract 881529031881500	Cape Girardeau (46%)	5,066	4,558±596	$82,153	$242,300	$1,027	9.9%
Tract 881629031881600	Cape Girardeau	3,014	2,774±491	$40,471	$114,900	$917	36.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Cape Girardeau County compare with Missouri's other counties?

Cape Girardeau County's rank among Missouri's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	15th of 115
Growth 2020-2025	42nd of 115
Residents per square mile	16th of 115
Median household income	25th of 115
Median home value	22nd of 115
Median gross rent	27th of 115
Poverty rate	60th of 115
Bachelor's degree or higher	11th of 115
Median age	102nd of 115

Every county in Missouri

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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' school search.