Cape Girardeau receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Cape Girardeau
Paducah
Opportunity
60 · Top 42%
vs40 · Bottom 20%
Growth
38 · Bottom 31%
vs28 · Bottom 17%
Climate
74 · Top 26%
vs73 · Top 26%
Physical resilience
39 · Bottom 28%
vs36 · Bottom 25%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 34%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
69 · Bottom 36%
vs72 · Bottom 42%
Economic stability
53 · Top 47%
vs31 · Bottom 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Cape Girardeau | Paducah | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 98,169 | 102,748 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,759 | $64,160 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,681 | $37,011 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 69/sq mi | 83/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $208,400 | $168,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $864 | $874 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.9% | 72.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 5.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 24.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 15.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 79 | 141 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -3.7% | -42.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 27°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.9" | 50.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 51 mi | 48 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 21.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.0 | 43.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Cape Girardeau
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado, inland flooding.
Paducah
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, strong wind, drought.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Cape Girardeau
62
Your Score
61
Area Score
Paducah
54
Your Score
53
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Metro Area · Paducah, KY-IL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology