Population
83,999
2025
+2.7% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Cape Girardeau County, MO: population growth, jobs and income
Cape Girardeau County gained 542 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.6%).
Cape Girardeau County had an estimated 83,999 residents in 2025, up 2.7% (2,188 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Missouri as a whole (+1.9%), and the 46th fastest growth of 115 counties in Missouri.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Cape Girardeau County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Cape Girardeau County, ranked against Missouri and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$881/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes10.1%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months732025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+367
2025
4.4 per 1,000 residents
+1,664 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
3.6%
2025
+0.7 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
99
2025
−44.1% since 2021
1.2 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$68,464
2020–24
+27.3% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
39,319
2023
+5.7% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 367 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 39,319 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +5.7% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.6% in 2025, 0.7 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 99 new homes in 2025, or 1.2 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $68,464 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +27.3% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,085th.
Part of the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area.
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Cape Girardeau County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 83,999 | +542 |
| 2024 | 83,457 | +488 |
| 2023 | 82,969 | +92 |
| 2022 | 82,877 | +741 |
| 2021 | 82,136 | +325 |
| 2020 | 81,811 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Cape Girardeau County
Cape Girardeau County grew by 2,188 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+1,664).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +11 | −201 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +162 | +697 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +367 | +1,664 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +2 | +28 | |
| Total change | +542 | +2,188 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Missouri | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 46th of 115 | 1,085th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 63rd of 115 | 1,154th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 31st of 115 | 1,128th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 25th of 115 | 1,289th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 15th of 115 | 1,054th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 51st of 113 | 1,977th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Cape Girardeau County, MO as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Neighbouring counties
Cape Girardeau County grew faster than all 6 of its neighbouring counties (+2.7%, 2020–25).
Its median household income ($68,464, 2020–24) is higher than in all 6 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau County, MO This county | 83,999 | +2.7% | 4.4 | 1.2 | $68,464 |
| Scott County, MO | 37,975 | −0.1% | 1.7 | 1.8 | $62,782 |
| Bollinger County, MO | 10,646 | +0.9% | 10.8 | 0.0 | $63,814 |
| Alexander County, IL | 4,570 | −11.6% | 0.4 | 0.0 | $47,043 |
| Union County, IL | 16,656 | −3.7% | −5.0 | 0.6 | $55,728 |
| Perry County, MO | 19,093 | +0.6% | −1.7 | 2.0 | $62,981 |
| Stoddard County, MO | 28,284 | −1.3% | 1.2 | 0.3 | $57,957 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Cape Girardeau County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 2.7% between 2020 and 2025, about 2,188 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Missouri as a whole changed +1.9% over the same years. That ranks 46th of 115 counties in Missouri for population growth.
How many people moved to Cape Girardeau County?
On net, about 367 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Cape Girardeau County?
It averaged 3.6% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Cape Girardeau County?
About 83,999 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Cape Girardeau County?
Private employers there had 39,319 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +5.7% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Missouri
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Missouri county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Cape Girardeau County data alerts
Email me when Cape Girardeau County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.