Very AffordableHigher than AverageCAPE GIRARDEAU 63
Cape Girardeau dec29-07 (23) · Drowzy at English Wikipedia / Public domainGlennHouseCape · Jonathunder / GFDL 1.2CapeRiverWall1 · Larry J. Summary, Cape Girardeau, MO / CC BY 3.0Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge · Framerotblues / Public domain
Cape Girardeau is a small city of 39,795 in Missouri, with a median household income of $51,671
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Cape Girardeau stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Cape Girardeau is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cape Girardeau city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 86.3
Cape Girardeau's overall cost of living index is 86.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Cape Girardeau costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Cape Girardeau, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$177,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$822
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,671
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Cape Girardeau's violent crime rate is 623.3 per 100,000 residents
— 64% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
623.3 /100k
Property Crime
2456.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Cape Girardeau is served primarily by CAPE GIRARDEAU 63.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Cape Girardeau, MO
National Avg
School District
CAPE GIRARDEAU 63
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
35.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Cape Girardeau sees average highs of 43.0°F in January
and 89.2°F in July,
with 47.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 7.5 inches of snow per year.
Cape Girardeau's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Cape Girardeau roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $177,500 and median rent is $822/month.
Cape Girardeau's violent crime rate is 623.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2456.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Cape Girardeau are operated by CAPE GIRARDEAU 63.
The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1. 35.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Cape Girardeau, MO has a population of 39,795, a median household income of $51,671, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Cape Girardeau averages 43.0°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.9 inches
with about 7.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Cape Girardeau, MO is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 63701, 63703.
The population of Cape Girardeau, Missouri is 39,795 with a median age of 33.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Cape Girardeau: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $177,500, median household income $51,671, crime index 145 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cape Girardeau side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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