Cape Girardeau County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Cape Girardeau County is located in Missouri with a total population of 82,180. It is the 15th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cape Girardeau County is 37.0 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cape Girardeau County is $68,912. This is about average than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.1%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $208,300. Housing costs are 3% lower than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 66.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cape Girardeau County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.1%.

Education

33.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Cape Girardeau County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.8%.