Living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Cape Girardeau · Census data 2020–2024
Cape Girardeau has 40,344 residents with a median age of 34.5. The median household income is $55,658 (21% lower than the Missouri median), the median home value is $196,300, the median rent is $876/month.
Cape Girardeau at a glance
- Population
- 40,344
- Median age
- 34.5State: 39
- Median household income
- $55,658State: $70,702
- Median home value
- $196,300State: $230,300
- Median rent
- $876/moState: $1,033
- Homeowners
- 54%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 34.9%
- Average commute
- 16 min
Is Cape Girardeau a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 15% lower than the state median; an average commute of 16 minutes; unemployment of 2.6%.
Cons: Median household income 21% lower than the Missouri median; a poverty rate of 20.8%.
The weather is best in May and August to October.
Cost of living in Cape Girardeau
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Cape Girardeau the median home value is $196,300, 41% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $876 per month, which is 29.2% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,369 a month in housing costs.
Cape Girardeau median household income
The median household income in Cape Girardeau is $55,658 and the income per person is $32,930. 20.8% of residents live below the poverty line (Missouri: 12.6%).
Housing in Cape Girardeau: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 18,745
- Owner-occupied
- 54%
- Renter-occupied
- 46%
- Vacant
- 12.7%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1975
- Average household size
- 2.27
Cape Girardeau demographics
- Population
- 40,344
- Median age
- 34.5
- Under 18
- 17.4%
- 65 and older
- 19.7%
- Households
- 16,364
- Foreign-born
- 3.9%
- Veterans
- 6.4%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Cape Girardeau ›
Education in Cape Girardeau
34.9% of adults 25 and older in Cape Girardeau have a bachelor's degree or higher (Missouri: 32.4%), and 13.9% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Cape Girardeau
- Unemployment rate
- 2.6%State: 4%
- Average commute
- 16 minState: 24 min
- Work from home
- 7.9%
- Drive alone
- 79.9%
- Public transit
- 0.2%
- Walk to work
- 2.8%
- Homes with broadband
- 87.4%
Cape Girardeau vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | 40,344 | $55,658 | $196,300 | $876 |
| East Cape Girardeau | 283 | $42,188 | $62,500 | $930 |
| Dutchtown | 187 | $86,111 | $154,200 | — |
| Scott City | 4,371 | $62,599 | $147,500 | $933 |
| Gordonville | 473 | $82,750 | $241,500 | $1,013 |
| McClure | 239 | $75,385 | $56,700 | $836 |
| Jackson | 15,659 | $77,105 | $240,000 | $900 |
| Kelso | 603 | $56,875 | $215,400 | $591 |
| Thebes | 353 | $40,917 | — | $583 |
More for people moving to Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Cape Girardeau: FAQ
What is the median household income in Cape Girardeau, MO?
The median household income in Cape Girardeau is $55,658, 21% lower than the Missouri median of $70,702 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Cape Girardeau?
The median home value in Cape Girardeau is $196,300, compared with $230,300 in Missouri.
How much is rent in Cape Girardeau?
The median gross rent in Cape Girardeau is $876 per month, about 29.2% of household income.
Is Cape Girardeau, MO a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 15% lower than the state median; an average commute of 16 minutes; unemployment of 2.6%. Minuses: median household income 21% lower than the Missouri median; a poverty rate of 20.8%.
What is the median age in Cape Girardeau?
The median age in Cape Girardeau is 34.5 years (Missouri: 39).
How long is the commute in Cape Girardeau?
The average commute to work in Cape Girardeau is 16 minutes; 7.9% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Cape Girardeau?
The unemployment rate in Cape Girardeau is 2.6% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Cape Girardeau?
34.9% of adults in Cape Girardeau have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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