United States › Illinois › DeKalb CITY · 2000 CENSUS
DeKalb Illinois · 39,018 residents · 17.3 sq mi
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The short version
DeKalb is a city of 39,018 people in Illinois. This skews young, with a median age of 23.1. Owners hold 42% of the housing stock. This is an unusually credentialed place: 38% of adults have a four-year degree. The poverty rate is 21.3%, above the 12.4% national rate. Households here earn about 25% less than in Illinois as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 23.1
US median: 35.2
More educated
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 22.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
34K 37K 40K 43K 46K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 DeKalb Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $35,153
+5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $25,387 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $10,826 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 24.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$126,400
+22%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $78,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$565
−2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $436 in 1990
US average: $602
from 42.5% in 1990
58.1% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 88.5%(30,897)
Hispanic / Latino 3.9%(1,366)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 75.6%(29,479)
Hispanic / Latino 9%(3,527)
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 from 39.5% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 87.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 19.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 55.1%(8,881)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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 39,018 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in DeKalb, Illinois? The typical household in DeKalb, Illinois earns about $35,153 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 $126,400, and the typical rent is about $565 a month.
How educated are people in DeKalb, Illinois? About 38.0% 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 21.3% 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 4,093 residents, a change of about 12 percent over that period.
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