CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
D

Is Cape Girardeau, Missouri Safe?

Population 40,977 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Cape Girardeau has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate above the national average and an overall rate of 263.9 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,532 per 100K.

Cape Girardeau Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCape GirardeauMissouri AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate439.1333.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2200.32080.71,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate291.0--268.2
Theft Rate1532.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate367.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

263.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

439/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2200/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Cape Girardeau

Violent crime in Cape Girardeau is above the national average. The rate of 439.1 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2200.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,532 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Cape Girardeau Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault291
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery74
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary309
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,532
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft367
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Cape Girardeau Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cape Girardeau
439.1
State
333.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cape Girardeau
2200.3
State
2080.7
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cape Girardeau Safety

Is Cape Girardeau safe?
Not especially. Cape Girardeau earns a D with a crime rate of 263.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Cape Girardeau?
263.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 439.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2200.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Cape Girardeau safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Cape Girardeau's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,532 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Cape Girardeau?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Cape Girardeau generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Cape Girardeau police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Cape Girardeau?
No. Crime in Cape Girardeau has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Cape Girardeau compare to other cities in Missouri?
Below average for the state. Cape Girardeau ranks behind about 78% of Missouri cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Cape Girardeau to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Cape Girardeau?
Bad. A D grade and 263.9 per-thousand rate put Cape Girardeau below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 439 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Cape Girardeau?
439.1 per 100,000, which is 21% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (291), robbery (74), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Missouri

Similar-sized communities in Missouri. Compare crime rates across the state.

D
See crime rates in Jefferson City42,489 pop · Grade D
C
See crime rates in Wildwood34,955 pop · Grade C
C
See crime rates in University City34,657 pop · Grade C
D-
See crime rates in Chesterfield49,309 pop · Grade D-
C-
See crime rates in Wentzville49,495 pop · Grade C-
D
See crime rates in Liberty31,319 pop · Grade D
View all Missouri city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Cape Girardeau

Get weekly safety updates for Cape Girardeau

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities