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Buying a home in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri

The typical owner-occupied home in Cape Girardeau County is worth about $220,700, 4% below the Missouri median of $230,300 and 34% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,421 a year in property taxes, about 0.64% of their home's value, lower than the Missouri rate of 0.85%. The median household earns $68,464 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (3.3 times for Missouri). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Cape Girardeau County at a glance

Cape Girardeau County Missouri U.S.
Median home value $220,700 $230,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,421 $1,948 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.64% 0.85% 0.94%
Median household income $68,464 $70,702 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 67% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 61% 60% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,408 $1,524 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.0% 19.0% 21.0%
Median rent $881 $1,033 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.3% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1982 1978 1980
Vacant homes 10.1% 11.2% 10.1%
Population 82,735 6,191,814 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Cape Girardeau County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Cape Girardeau County home of $220,700 with 20% down costs about $1,397 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,765, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $59,889 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 24% of the median Cape Girardeau County household income of $68,464; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $252,000.

The median rent here is $881 a month, so owning the median home costs about $516 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$44,140
Loan amount$176,560
Principal and interest$1,188
Property taxes (0.64% a year)$118
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$92
PMI$0
Total per month$1,397

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$7,724
Loan amount$216,703
Principal and interest$1,458
Property taxes (0.64% a year)$118
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$92
FHA mortgage insurance$98
Total per month$1,765

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Questions about home buying in Cape Girardeau County

What is the median home value in Cape Girardeau County?

About $220,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Cape Girardeau County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,421 a year, which is about 0.64% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Cape Girardeau County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,397 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $59,889 a year.

More about Cape Girardeau County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data