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Living in
Cape Girardeau.
About
Life in Cape Girardeau
If you're considering Cape Girardeau, know that you're looking at a working city, not a retirement destination—though it serves both well. The job market is solid, with unemployment around 4.0%, and healthcare is the dominant industry, which means stable employment but also means the economy is somewhat concentrated. Median household income is around $55,000, and you can find homes in the $180,000-$190,000 range or rent for around $880 a month, making it genuinely affordable.
Cape Girardeau at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.8%
Foreign-Born
3.9%
Broadband Internet
87.4%
of households
Population Growth
+3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.9% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Cape Girardeau: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cape Girardeau, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (14.9%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.4%
of residents
65 and Older
19.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.5%
of households
Married Couples
37.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 15% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Cape Girardeau
In Cape Girardeau, rent runs 15% below the MO average, and home values are 15% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
86.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,380
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $219,276 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MO
Unemployment in Cape Girardeau
Unemployment in Cape Girardeau is close to the MO average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Cape Girardeau Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.9 min avg
How Cape Girardeau residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cape Girardeau, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI)
Regional airport · few flights10k passengers boarded in 2025
- 110 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 42% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Cape Girardeau runs 42% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
467.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,742.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Cape Girardeau Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 36 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cape Girardeau County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cape Girardeau County, which includes Cape Girardeau, the most common type is strong wind, with 36 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | Dense Fog | $740,000 |
| 2024 | 43 | Dense Fog | $257,000 |
| 2023 | 35 | Strong Wind | $89,000 |
| 2022 | 37 | Strong Wind | $17,000 |
| 2021 | 30 | Strong Wind | $42,000 |
| 2020 | 32 | Strong Wind | $859,000 |
| 2019 | 47 | Flood | $550,000 |
| 2018 | 50 | Strong Wind | $110,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
11 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cape Girardeau County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Perry County, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 31 miles from Cape Girardeau) is typically good — 216 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
216
per year
Moderate Days
38
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Perry County, MO (31 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cape Girardeau has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.9"
Annual Snowfall
7.5"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
90
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 26°F | 3.51" |
| Feb | 48°F | 30°F | 3.31" |
| Mar | 58°F | 37°F | 4.69" |
| Apr | 69°F | 47°F | 5.18" |
| May | 78°F | 58°F | 5.27" |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 3.80" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 3.87" |
| Aug | 88°F | 66°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 82°F | 58°F | 3.61" |
| Oct | 71°F | 46°F | 3.57" |
| Nov | 57°F | 37°F | 4.25" |
| Dec | 46°F | 30°F | 3.62" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau has 3 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
9.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Saint Francis Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Mercy Hospital Southeast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Southeast Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau's student/teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 34.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Cape Girardeau
Southeast Missouri State University
Public · 4-year · 6,373 students · in-state tuition $10,194 · 54% graduate · median earnings $48,748 (10 yrs after entry)
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 200 students · in-state tuition $11,064 · 71% graduate · median earnings $70,380 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park, 53 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park (53 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ste. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
53 mi awayTrail Of Tears National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
87 mi awayOzark National Scenic Riverways
National Scenic Riverways
94 mi awayUlysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
96 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cape Girardeau
Municipal Library District Of The City Of Cape Girardeau
711 N Clark St, Cape Girardeau
Cities Near Cape Girardeau
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cape Girardeau?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cape Girardeau FAQ
Is Cape Girardeau, Missouri affordable?⌄
Cape Girardeau's median rent is $876/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $55,658/year. Median home value is $196,300.
Is Cape Girardeau, Missouri safe?⌄
Cape Girardeau's violent crime rate was 467 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1743 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?⌄
Cape Girardeau has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Cape Girardeau is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $876/month and median household income is $55,658/year. The median home value is $196,300. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cape Girardeau, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Cape Girardeau is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from