United States › Illinois › DeKalb CITY · 1990 CENSUS
DeKalb Illinois · 34,925 residents · 17.3 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 34,925 people, DeKalb is a city in Illinois. This skews young, with a median age of 22.8. 42% of homes are owner-occupied. This is an unusually credentialed place: 39% of adults have a four-year degree. The poverty rate is 24.4%, above the 13.2% national rate. That trails the Illinois median by roughly 21%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 22.8
US median: 33.0
More educated
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 18%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01
Population & growth vs 23.1 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
34K 37K 40K 43K 46K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 DeKalb Age distribution, 1990
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $25,387
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $35,153 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $16,261 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 21.3% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$78,700
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $126,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$436
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $565 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 41.9% in 2000
57.5% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 75.6%(29,479)
Hispanic / Latino 9%(3,527)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 88.5%(30,897)
Hispanic / Latino 3.9%(1,366)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Asian origin
+ 1 more asian origin group with data Ancestry
+ 39 more ancestry groups with data vs 38.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 87.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 18.2% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation vs 16.3 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 59.1%(9,815)
Women 15+
Never married 56.5%(10,014)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 55.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 9.7% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 23.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 68.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 32.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 40.5%(554)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.6%(282)
Share of the 1,369 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to DeKalb Head to head
Compare DeKalb to nearby cities DEKALB VS
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DEKALB VS
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DEKALB VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in DeKalb, Illinois? DeKalb, Illinois has about 34,925 residents according to the 1990 Census.
What is the median household income in DeKalb, Illinois? The typical household in DeKalb, Illinois earns about $25,387 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 $78,700, and the typical rent is about $436 a month.
How educated are people in DeKalb, Illinois? About 39.5% 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 24.4% of people in DeKalb, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.
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