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CITY

DeKalb

Illinois · 40,467 residents (2025 est.) · 17.33 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#184Youngest by median ageof 6,82626.1#246Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-8.1%
The short version

DeKalb has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $46,481. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $204,700. At a median age of 26.1, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 24.9% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 44% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 26.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 11%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
40,443
+4%since 2000
from 39,018 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,334 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 2,251 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
26.1
+13%since 2000
from 23.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:40,467 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
34K37K40K43K46K1990201020202024DeKalb
202440K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,481
−27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,153 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,086
+67%since 2000
from $16,261 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
31.4%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.9%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.498
+7%since 2010
from 0.465 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$204,700
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $126,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,029
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $565 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
42.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 41.9% in 2000
57.9% rent
Vacancy rate
5.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.4%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
62.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.4
+22%since 2000
from 3.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
14
RELATED:See current rent listings in DeKalb on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic75.6%(29,479)
Black9%(3,508)
Hispanic / Latino9%(3,527)
Asian4.6%(1,796)
Other0%
Diversity Score48.6%(18,964)
2024
White, non-Hispanic56.4%(22,790)
Black13.8%(5,587)
Hispanic / Latino19.9%(8,058)
Asian4%(1,627)
Other5.9%(2,381)
Diversity Score77.3%(31,272)
Diversity Score
77
+59%since 2000
from 49 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.7%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 38.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 87.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.1%
−4.1 ptssince 2000
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+46%since 2000
from 16.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 71.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
8.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2011
from 12.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2011
from 67.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.6%
−31.1 ptssince 2009
from 63.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
50.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
9.1%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.2%
−45.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2012
from 6.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.2%
−83.2 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.8%
+7.4 ptssince 2017
from 83.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
82.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 84.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
11.8%
+3.8 ptssince 2016
from 8.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to DeKalb

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Pop 36,898
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Head to head

Compare DeKalb to nearby cities

DEKALB VS
Sycamore
Income$84,120+81%
Home value$265,700+30%
Population19,083−53%
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DEKALB VS
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Income$66,307+43%
Home value$164,300−20%
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DEKALB VS
Campton Hills
Income$209,134+350%
Home value$547,500+167%
Population10,894−73%
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DEKALB VS
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Income$94,773+104%
Home value$329,800+61%
Population9,266−77%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in DeKalb, Illinois?

DeKalb, Illinois has about 40,443 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in DeKalb, Illinois?

The typical household in DeKalb, Illinois earns about $46,481 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is DeKalb, Illinois expensive?

In DeKalb, Illinois, the median home is worth about $204,700, and the typical rent is about $1,029 a month.

How educated are people in DeKalb, Illinois?

About 33.7% of adults age 25 and over in DeKalb, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in DeKalb, Illinois?

About 24.9% of people in DeKalb, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has DeKalb, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, DeKalb, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,518 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →