HomeMissouriCape Girardeau County
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri had an estimated 83,658 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 81,710, across 579 square miles. County output reached $5.36 bn in 2024, 2,334 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 49 7(a) approvals worth $17.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Cape Girardeau County
How many people live in Cape Girardeau County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202482,735
- Households32,454
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$68,464
- Median age37.1
- Median gross rent$881 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$220,700
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over53,914
- Population under 1817,657
- Share under 1821.3 percent
- Population 65 and over14,766
- Share 65 and over17.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6450,312
- Civilian labor force43,387
- Unemployment rate2.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.7 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties15th of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included710th of 3,222
Cape Girardeau County is the 15th largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.3 percent against 17.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Cape Girardeau County
Is Cape Girardeau County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202483,658
- Census 2020 base population81,710
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.38 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024548
- Births, 2024934
- Deaths, 2024828
- Natural change, 2024106
- Net domestic migration, 2024212
- Net international migration, 2024232
- Total net migration, 2024444
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,275
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1042nd of 3,144
The county has grown 2.38 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Cape Girardeau County
Where are people moving to Cape Girardeau County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,956
- People arriving, from those returns3,451
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,963
- Net household movement-7
- Adjusted gross income arriving$121.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$11.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$62,070
- Average income of a leaving household$56,073
- Largest single originScott County (303 households)
- Largest single destinationScott County (281 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County | 303 | 563 | $12.8 m |
| Bollinger County | 109 | 198 | $4.5 m |
| Perry County | 85 | 144 | $3.7 m |
| St. Louis County | 75 | 105 | $4.2 m |
| Stoddard County | 56 | 92 | $2.2 m |
| Butler County | 50 | 87 | $1.7 m |
| Jefferson County | 48 | 88 | $2.7 m |
| St. Francois County | 44 | 75 | $2.1 m |
Households arriving report $5,997 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Scott County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Cape Girardeau County
What is the Cape Girardeau County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.36 bn
- County GDP, 2023$5.24 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.2 percent
- GDP change over five years28.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes14th of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes684th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$64,776
Output grew 2.2 percent in the latest year and 28.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Cape Girardeau County
Employment by industry in Cape Girardeau County
- Covered employment, annual average41,463
- Establishments reporting2,822
- Average annual pay$51,752
- Average weekly wage$995
- Health care and social assistance, employment10,297
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$58,712
- Retail trade, employment5,784
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,271
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,324
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,564
- Manufacturing, employment3,793
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$72,512
- Construction, employment1,831
- Wholesale trade, employment1,640
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 10,297 | 797 | $58,712 |
| Retail trade | 5,784 | 354 | $35,271 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,324 | 207 | $21,564 |
| Manufacturing | 3,793 | 90 | $72,512 |
| Construction | 1,831 | 193 | $64,381 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,640 | 114 | $55,539 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,309 | 117 | $45,879 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,303 | 197 | $65,996 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 10,297 jobs, 24.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Cape Girardeau County
How many businesses are in Cape Girardeau County?
- Establishments, all industries2,334
- Employment at those establishments39,319
- Annual payroll$1.87 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents28.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cape Girardeau County
Building permits in Cape Girardeau County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202480
- Declared construction value permitted$26.3 m
- Single family units authorized76
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units5.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$328,984
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.5
Single-family homes are 95.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Cape Girardeau County
SBA loans in Cape Girardeau County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded49
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$17.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$348,647
- Median 7(a) approval$238,500
- 10th percentile approval$30,200
- 90th percentile approval$683,600
- Largest single approval$2,021,200
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)613
- Jobs per approval12.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals33
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer12.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter40
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals8.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countSports and Recreation Instruction (5)
- Most active lenderThe Bank of Missouri (16)
- 504 approvals recorded23
- 504 gross approval dollars$10.6 m
- Average 504 approval$461,826
- Median 504 approval$325,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval5.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.2
- Most active CDCRural Missouri, Inc. (20)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$27.7 m
The average approval of $348,647 sits well above the median of $238,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 12.2 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cape Girardeau County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Cape Girardeau County
Do SBA loans in Cape Girardeau County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded7
- Paid in full7
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure35
- Status: Cancelled5
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 7 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cape Girardeau County
SBA lending by place in Cape Girardeau County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Cape Girardeau, approvals30
- Jackson, approvals19
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | 30 | $10,165,600 |
| Jackson | 19 | $6,918,100 |
Cape Girardeau accounts for 30 approvals against 19 in Jackson. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cape Girardeau County
How large is Cape Girardeau County?
- Land area579 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties59th of 115
- Width, east to west24.5 mi
- Height, north to south32.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land143
- Establishments per square mile4.03
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cape Girardeau County
Flood risk in Cape Girardeau County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Cape Girardeau County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 290790
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate62.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Cape Girardeau County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Cape Girardeau County (community 290790), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Cape Girardeau County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 62.5 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Cape Girardeau County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Cape Girardeau County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202482,735
- Households32,454
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$68,464
- Median age37.1
Common questions
Cape Girardeau County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 83,658 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 82,735, in 32,454 households, ranking 15th of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Cape Girardeau County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.38 percent since the 2020 census base of 81,710, to 83,658 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 934 births against 828 deaths, with net migration of 444. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Cape Girardeau County?
$68,464. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $220,700, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $881 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Cape Girardeau County?
2,334 establishments, employing 39,319 people with an annual payroll of $1.87 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Cape Girardeau County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 10,297 jobs, 24.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 41,463 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,752, or $995 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Cape Girardeau County?
49 7(a) approvals totaling $17.1 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $238,500, plus 23 504 approvals worth $10.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Cape Girardeau County?
80 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $26.3 m. Multifamily was 5.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Cape Girardeau County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Cape Girardeau County come from?
The largest single origin is Scott County, with 303 households. Arriving households report an average income of $62,070 against $56,073 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Cape Girardeau County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Cape Girardeau County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Cape Girardeau County
Cities and places in Cape Girardeau.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Cape Girardeau County. 14 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | city | 40,344 | 30 | 95.7 percent here, 4.3 percent Scott County |
| Jackson | city | 15,659 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Scott City | city | 4,371 | None recorded | 9.3 percent here, 90.7 percent Scott County |
| Delta | city | 532 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gordonville | village | 473 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Oak Ridge | town | 298 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Millersville | CDP | 280 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dutchtown | CDP | 187 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Burfordville | CDP | 147 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Allenville | village | 127 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Shawneetown | CDP | 122 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Old Appleton | town | 109 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Whitewater | town | 64 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pocahontas | town | 55 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| New Wells | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby