Metro area profile · Missouri
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area market data
How the Cape Girardeau metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 99,215
- +1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 38,299
- Median household income
- $66,759
- +29.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $208,400
- Jobs located here
- 42,124
- Highest market score
- 62
- Dentists and orthodontists, #108 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Cape Girardeau metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Cape Girardeau metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Cape Girardeau metro area has an estimated 99,215 people and 38,299 households. Population estimates show the Cape Girardeau metro area grew 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Cape Girardeau metro area is $66,759, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 29.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Cape Girardeau metro area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 112, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (62).
Of the business types scored in the Cape Girardeau metro area, dentists and orthodontists (62), gyms (59) and nail salons (58) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For dentists and orthodontists, that ranks #108 of 387 scored metro areas.
The Cape Girardeau metro area takes in 3 counties: Cape Girardeau County, MO; Bollinger County, MO; and Alexander County, IL. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for car washes and detailers (79% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (39% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Cape Girardeau metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Cape Girardeau metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists and orthodontists | 62 | #108 of 387 | 40 | 10.4 | $1.3M | 129 | 32 |
| Gyms | 59 | #112 of 387 | 25 | 6.5 | $1.2M | 92 | 5 |
| Nail salons | 58 | #119 of 387 | 17 | 4.4 | $2.1M | 124 | 4 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 52 | #152 of 347 | 8 | 2.1 | $3.7M | 92 | 5 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 52 | #170 of 387 | 50 | 13.1 | $597K | 90 | 14 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 52 | #175 of 386 | 13 | 3.4 | $3.9M | 124 | 11 |
| Roofing and gutters | 50 | #195 of 381 | 12 | 3.1 | $8M | 95 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 49 | #186 of 387 | 72 | 18.8 | Index only | 129 | 26 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 49 | #190 of 385 | 14 | 3.7 | $3.1M | 107 | 34 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 48 | #215 of 387 | 33 | 8.6 | $4.2M | 101 | 19 |
| Convenience stores | 48 | #217 of 387 | 33 | 8.6 | $6.7M | 85 | 5 |
| House cleaning | 47 | #217 of 375 | 7 | 1.8 | $6.3M | 98 | 15 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 47 | #226 of 387 | 30 | 7.8 | $1.7M | 95 | 61 |
| Hair salons | 46 | #227 of 387 | 84 | 21.9 | $419K | 97 | 20 |
| Real estate | 45 | #234 of 387 | 99 | 25.8 | Index only | 118 | 56 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 45 | #249 of 387 | 170 | 44.4 | $207K | 97 | 34 |
| Barbershops | 44 | #256 of 387 | 19 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 98 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 43 | #231 of 387 | 28 | 7.3 | $1.6M | 94 | 60 |
| Home repair trades | 43 | #237 of 387 | 47 | 12.3 | $2M | 84 | 51 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 43 | #245 of 387 | 71 | 18.5 | $3.1M | 92 | 22 |
| Tire shops | 42 | #248 of 386 | 17 | 4.4 | $2.4M | 97 | 10 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 42 | #250 of 381 | 13 | 3.4 | $3.2M | 103 | 13 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #257 of 387 | 22 | 5.7 | $10M | 108 | 17 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 40 | #271 of 387 | 23 | 6.0 | $4.2M | 88 | 29 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 40 | #272 of 387 | 368 | 96.1 | $138K | 90 | 145 |
| Auto repair shops | 40 | #272 of 387 | 94 | 24.5 | $439K | 99 | 60 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 40 | #277 of 387 | 42 | 11.0 | $3.3M | 88 | 19 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 40 | #286 of 387 | 17 | 4.4 | $1.8M | 87 | 9 |
| Gas stations | 39 | #271 of 387 | 44 | 11.5 | $2.4M | 101 | 47 |
| Child care and preschools | 39 | #271 of 387 | 15 | 3.9 | $915K | 91 | 22 |
| Laundromats | 38 | #252 of 364 | 6 | 1.6 | $11.7M | 94 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 38 | #282 of 373 | 16 | 4.2 | Index only | 81 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 38 | #293 of 387 | 26 | 6.8 | $1.6M | 63 | 6 |
| Auto repair and car care | 36 | #299 of 387 | 170 | 44.4 | $243K | 90 | 82 |
| Electricians | 36 | #307 of 383 | 12 | 3.1 | $8M | 67 | 17 |
| Chiropractors | 35 | #317 of 386 | 29 | 7.6 | $1.7M | 73 | 14 |
| Funeral homes | 34 | #283 of 377 | 10 | 2.6 | $571K | 84 | 13 |
| Pet businesses | 34 | #313 of 387 | 48 | 12.5 | $616K | 70 | 19 |
| Property management | 34 | #318 of 374 | 11 | 2.9 | Index only | 83 | 16 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 33 | #316 of 386 | 16 | 4.2 | $1.8M | 73 | 8 |
| Physical therapy | 33 | #323 of 386 | 28 | 7.3 | $1.8M | 75 | 19 |
| Spas and skin care | 33 | #349 of 387 | 45 | 11.7 | $783K | 89 | 10 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 32 | #310 of 387 | 118 | 30.8 | $596K | 68 | 33 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 31 | #307 of 387 | 55 | 14.4 | $2.5M | 82 | 87 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 27 | #332 of 387 | 90 | 23.5 | $781K | 61 | 33 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 24 | #359 of 387 | 432 | 112.8 | $318K | 86 | 194 |
| Veterinarians | 24 | #360 of 384 | 18 | 4.7 | $1.6M | 60 | 11 |
| Dry cleaners | 23 | #255 of 272 | 7 | 1.8 | $10M | 64 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 23 | #371 of 387 | 245 | 64.0 | $561K | 85 | 85 |
| Pizza | 21 | #368 of 387 | 47 | 12.3 | $2.9M | 58 | 87 |
| Pet stores | 20 | #369 of 382 | 11 | 2.9 | $2.7M | 59 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | 15 | #341 of 345 | 7 | 1.8 | $6.3M | 62 | 11 |
| Insurance agencies | 14 | #383 of 387 | 104 | 27.2 | $617K | 49 | 79 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.0 | $10.3M | 75 | 4 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $50.7M | Too few | 8 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Cape Girardeau metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $41.2M | $1,077 | 112 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $105.7M | $2,760 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $137.5M | $3,589 | 88 |
| Groceries | $220.5M | $5,758 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $35.2M | $920 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $13.7M | $358 | 62 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $29.9M | $779 | 79 |
| Medical and dental services | $50.7M | $1,322 | 103 |
| Pets | $29.6M | $772 | 85 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $70.3M | $1,835 | 89 |
| Vehicle insurance | $64.2M | $1,676 | 86 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $96.2M | $2,512 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $44M | $1,149 | 81 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $506.6M | $13,229 | 79 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Cape Girardeau metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 99,215+1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 38,299
- Median age
- 40.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 69%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,432 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 69
- Median household income
- $66,759+29.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $86,168
- Median home value
- $208,400
- Jobs located here
- 42,124
- Daytime population
- 96,665Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Cape Girardeau metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Cape Girardeau metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Cape Girardeau metro area 3
- Cape Girardeau County, MO82,735 people
- Bollinger County, MO10,559 people
- Alexander County, IL4,875 people
Other markets based in Missouri 12
- St. Louis, MO-IL metro area2,810,850 people
- Kansas City, MO-KS metro area2,218,142 people
- Springfield, MO metro area486,785 people
- Columbia, MO metro area215,014 people
- Joplin, MO-KS metro area203,626 people
- Jefferson City, MO metro area150,437 people
- St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area120,012 people
- Farmington, MO area66,999 people
- Branson, MO area56,529 people
- Warrensburg, MO area54,732 people
- Fort Leonard Wood, MO area53,894 people
- Sikeston, MO area49,835 people
Questions
How fast is the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Cape Girardeau metro area at 99,215 people in 2025, up 1.7% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 38,299 households. Median household income rose 29.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area spend?
Households in the Cape Girardeau metro area spend about $506.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $220.5M on groceries and $137.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Cape Girardeau metro area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 112, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (62).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Cape Girardeau metro area are for dentists and orthodontists (62), gyms (59) and nail salons (58). The Cape Girardeau metro area ranks #108 of 387 scored metro areas for dentists and orthodontists.
How does the Cape Girardeau, MO-IL metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Cape Girardeau metro area is $66,759 a year, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $208,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Cape Girardeau metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for car washes and detailers (79% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (39% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 53 of the 56 business types have a score in the Cape Girardeau metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Cape Girardeau metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Missouri · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Cape Girardeau metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Cape Girardeau metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.