Jackson receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Jackson
Cape Girardeau
Opportunity
67 · Top 27%
vs55 · Bottom 49%
Growth
54 · Top 44%
vs49 · Bottom 47%
Climate
74 · Top 35%
vs74 · Top 35%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 33%
vs42 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 11%
vs92 · Top 27%
Schools
50 · Bottom 48%
vs42 · Bottom 37%
Access
73 · Bottom 15%
vs74 · Bottom 15%
Economic stability
70 · Top 30%
vs38 · Bottom 15%
Measured values
| Metric | Jackson | Cape Girardeau | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,659 | 40,344 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $77,105 | $55,658 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,230 | $32,930 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,457/sq mi | 1,379/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $240,000 | $196,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $900 | $876 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.1% | 54.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | -1.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 34.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 20.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 34 | 45 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -2.9% | 0.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.9" | 47.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 44 mi | 43 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 17.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.1 | 34.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.25 | 11.81 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 39.9% | 30.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 46.9% | 39.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 37.0% | 96.4% | 2024-25 school 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
Jackson
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Cape Girardeau
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Jackson
66
Your Score
64
Area Score
Cape Girardeau
58
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Jackson, MO · Cape Girardeau, MO · How this is calculated: methodology