Median Age
35 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 20% of Residents
Under 20
23%
Over 65
18%
Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, MO Area Guide
Avg Rent
$603
Population
40,015
Renter Mix
50% Rent
Bask in the country atmosphere and big-city amenities of southeastern Missouri
Suburban
•
Scenic
•
Riverside
•
Welcoming
•
College Town
•
Historic
•
Active
•
Vibrant
•
Accessible
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Cape Girardeau, also known as “Cape,” is the largest city in southeastern Missouri, stretching along the banks of the Mississippi River and the Missouri-Illinois border. Cape offers residents a country atmosphere with a taste of big-city living, from the national retailers at West Park Mall and the local shops in the quaint downtown area to the bustling Isle Casino Cape Girardeau and the many peaceful parks and green spaces in town.
Home to Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau exudes the vibrancy of a college town, with a bevy of shops, restaurants, bars, coffee houses, and entertainment venues. Destinations like Saint Louis and Memphis are about a two-hour drive away from Cape Girardeau as well. Convenience to I-55 makes getting around from Cape Girardeau simple.
Explore the City
Southeast Missouri State University is a prominent institution in Cape Girardeau.
Bungalows and small cottages line streets in Cape Girardeau.
Restaurants and stores are located in historic buildings in Cape Girardeau.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$49,268
Average: $67,314
Education
11,492
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
19,646
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
In Cape Girardeau, there are roughly the same number of renters and homeowners.
Renters
50%
Non-Renters
50%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
22%
Other Education
78%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Cape Girardeau, MO is $660 for a studio, $603 for one bedroom, $824 for two bedrooms, and $1,062 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Cape Girardeau has decreased by -1.2% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$603/month
498 Sq Ft
House
$1,552/month
1,285 Sq Ft
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Cape Girardeau, MO is 5.4% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Cape Girardeau is 18.2% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $603 - $1,062. You can expect to pay 5.2% more for groceries, 4.6% less for utilities, and 7.4% more for transportation.
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Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Cape Girardeau, MO is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
60
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
296 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
217 Students
Public
Grades K-5
604 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
470 Students
Public
Grades K-5
351 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
618 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
244 Students
Public
Grades K-12
28 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,341 Students
Public
Grades K-12
28 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center
- St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway
Commuter Rail
Top Apartments in Cape Girardeau
Houses for Rent in Cape Girardeau
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.