East Cape Girardeau, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 283, East Cape Girardeau's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

East Cape Girardeau is a small community located in Illinois, within Alexander County. The total population is 283. It ranks as the 1100th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in East Cape Girardeau is 39.3 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.0 years. With 28.3% of the population under 18, East Cape Girardeau has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 11.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in East Cape Girardeau is $42,188. This is 49% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 29.0%. This is 145% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 16.3%. This is 180% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $62,500. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, East Cape Girardeau is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 64.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

East Cape Girardeau has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.4% of all residents. Asian residents account for 3.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.4% vs 58.1%). The Black or African American population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 13.3%.

Education

12.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 68% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for East Cape Girardeau, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.