Along the Mississippi River about 115 miles south of St. Louis, the city of Cape Girardeau is home to around 40,000 people but with a culture all its own. There's plenty of outdoor recreation, lively entertainment and a historic downtown, setting apart the town from its eastern Missouri neighbors. “We are a small town, but we have all the amenities of a large city—music and theater—without the traffic or the people,” says Brenda Newbern, the executive director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Blue Diamond Sports Bar is a place to socialize with friends and play a game of pool or darts in Cape Girardeau.
Established in 1733, Cape Girardeau sits along the Mississippi River beginning as a trading post.
1/2
Historic homes and modern subdivisions
The median sale price for a home in Cape Girardeau is $208,250, about half the national median. Homes downtown tend to be older than in other parts of the city, with Craftsman styles, bungalows and cottages lining the streets. “In the historic districts, you have traditional homes, but we also have apartments and new subdivisions with modern styles,” says Newburn. The city's five historic districts often require a level of preservation, and permissions must be granted before significant changes or renovations can be made. Major employers include St. Francis Medical Center, Mercy Hospital Southeast and Procter & Gamble, which operates a paper-products factory on a 1,300-acre site north of town.
The quaint craftsman style homes are common in downtown Cape Girardeau.
Bungalows and small cottages line many streets in Cape Girardeau.
1/2
Threaded with trails and peppered with parks
“Our parks are beautiful, and the trail system is unbelievable,'' Newburn says. "The Shawnee Trail runs the length of the city.” Cape Girardeau is home to 25 parks, spanning over 600 acres and seven scenic trails, including a riverfront walk. “You can bike on it, you can skateboard on it, and there are terraces where you can just sit and watch the barges go by.” Other popular spots include Cape Girardeau County Park South and Trail of Tears State Park, the latter of which is just outside the city in neighboring Jackson. Golfers can book a tee time at Dalhousie Golf Club. Locals can also catch a show at the Show Me Center, Southeast Missouri State University's destination for sporting events and live entertainment. Downtown, the historic Rose Theater puts on plays and musicals.
Families and kids enjoy the playground at Cape Girardeau County Park South.
Trail of Tears State Park stands as a memorial to those Cherokee Native Americans who died on the Cherokee Trail of Tears.
1/2
Dinners in the historic downtown and shopping at The West Park Mall
Though restaurants and shops can be found throughout the city, most are concentrated downtown and along Blues Highway. Downtown, in particular, is known for its restaurants and antique stores, which are clustered together in historic buildings. “The food— oh, my goodness,” says Newburn. “We have every restaurant you can think of in this small town. I think we have something like 77 restaurants— everything from chains to independent, and all types of food.” The West Park Mall, located on the west side of the city, is being renovated and expanded to include new shops.
The West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau offers name brand shopping and a cozy place out of the elements to socialize.
Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant is a popular place for dinner downtown.
1/2
The Cape Girardeau School District
The Cape Girardeau School District serves the city. Scoring a B on Niche, the district maintains five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Blanchard Elementary School ranks particularly high, earning an A-minus from Niche. At Franklin Elementary, class sizes are relatively small, with an average student-teacher ratio of 8-to-1.
Southeast Missouri State University, a four-year public institution, serves about 7,000 undergraduate students.
Franklin Elementary School is located at 1550 Themis Street.
Cape Girardeau is a college town, home of SEMO, Southeast Missouri University.
1/2
Travel in Cape Girardeau and beyond
Interstate 55, State Route 74 and State Route 177 run through the city, providing a direct route to St. Louis. Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority operates fixed-route bus service and paratransit transportation. Cape Girardeau Regional Airport provides daily flights to Chicago under the federal Essential Air Service program. The St. Louis Lambert International Airport is 130 miles north and offers a broader selection of airlines and destinations.
Climate and Environment
Cape Girardeau experiences a humid subtropical climate, with humid summers and mild winters. Stormwater pollution is a concern, as most of the city’s stormwater ends up in the Mississippi River, which is a major drinking source for the community and surrounding areas. Prevention efforts include Cape Girardeau’s Storm Drain Stenciling Program, which remind residents and business operators that storm drains lead to the river.
Barge traffic can be seen traveling the Mississippi River that serves as the water source for many towns in this areas including Cape Girardeau.
Mild winters in Cape Girardeau allow students a comfortable commute to classes.
1/2
Crime
According to FBI data, the rates of reported violent crime and property crime in Cape Girardeau over the last five years trend higher than the Missouri and national averages.
Written By
Stephanie Davison
Photography Contributed By
Dana Dieckmann
Video By
Victoria York
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Rylan Martin,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Cape Girardeau, MO sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Cape Girardeau, MO over the last 12 months is $224,900, down 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Brick ranch with private tree-lined backyard. Move right in! A nice living room with windows out the front, kitchen and dining are combined and open to a fabulous covered porch that feels like extra living space. Finished walk out basement offers additional living room, play room that could be additional bedroom and bedroom with legal window. The neighborhood is conveniently located, yet tucked
Step inside this beautiful all-brick ranch home, perfectly situated at the beginning of a quiet, dead-end street. Offering both comfort and convenience, this property features a spacious two-car garage plus a driveway that easily accommodates four additional vehicles.Inside, you’ll find a bright and open living room filled with natural light. The kitchen boasts ample counter space, a
Very well maintained brick home with an incredible yard with large in ground pool with waterfall effect and great fenced play area, main level laundry. Across from Alma Schrader School. Nice breezeway. Great place to call home.
Stunning Corner Lot Home at 901 Pheasant Cove Drive, Cape Girardeau, Missouri**Discover the perfect blend of comfort and functionality in this spacious three-bedroom, four-bathroom home. Boasting 2,531 square feet on the main level and a total of 3,731 square feet of finished living space, this residence is designed for both relaxation and entertainment.As you enter, you’re
Nestled in the beloved Sunset area, this beautifully renovated cottage blends classic character with modern comfort. A spacious eat-in kitchen welcomes you with beautiful cabinetry, new roof as well as a new garage door, toilets, carpet and more! The private, fenced back yard is perfect for relaxing, gardening, pets and also has a screened porch off the garage. Schedule today!
The District at Cape near SEMO University is a unique, inclusive community offering the best of the best living in Cape Girardeau. Whether you’re a college student, retiree, single professional, or family of four, you’ll find the perfect fit with one of our one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans. At The District at Cape, you’ll enjoy carefree living at its finest in your new home!
Welcome to Hawthorne Place. A new community that focuses on high end finishes in a spacious 3 bedroom single family home with a large open concept living and entertaining area. This development is located conveniently off of Mount Auburn and Hopper Road with easy accessibility to all that Cape Girardeau has to offer.
Check out our fully-furnished apartments in Cape Girardeau. Cape Trails offers spacious two- and four-bedroom apartments complete with high-speed internet and in-unit laundry. Our pet-friendly community has the amenities that make student life easy like a study lounge, a computer center with printing, planned social events, and a resident shuttle. Not to mention, our prime location is situated
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
