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CITY · 2010 ACS

DeKalb

Illinois · 43,862 residents · 17.33 sq mi
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The short version

DeKalb has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $40,228. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $180,900. At a median age of 23.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 26.3% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 28% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 23.6
US median: 37.2
More educated
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
43,862
+12%since 2000
from 39,018 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,531 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 2,251 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
23.6
+2%since 2000
from 23.1 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
34K37K40K43K46K1990201020202024DeKalb
202440K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,228
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,153 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,840
+16%since 2000
from $16,261 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
23.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
26.3%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.465
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information16.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade9.1%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade3.7%
US avg: 7.2%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 3.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$180,900
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $126,400 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$781
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $565 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
32.6%
−9.2 ptssince 2000
from 41.9% in 2000
56.9% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
34.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 31.4% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
60.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
4.5
+25%since 2000
from 3.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic68.9%(30,238)
Black12.5%(5,494)
Hispanic / Latino12.5%(5,504)
Asian4%(1,769)
Other1.7%(731)
Diversity Score61.1%(26,781)
Diversity Score
61
+26%since 2000
from 49 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2000
from 38.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
90.5%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 87.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
14.4%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.4 min
+25%since 2000
from 16.3 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
72.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 71.6% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
9.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
4.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
8.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
1.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
7.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
17.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
34.5%
−29.2 ptssince 2009
from 63.7% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
49.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
10.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
5.4%
−44.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to DeKalb

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Pop 36,898
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Pop 51,737
Hallandale Beach
Pop 42,698
Leesburg
Pop 38,905
Places similar to DeKalb
Head to head

Compare DeKalb to nearby cities

DEKALB VS
Sycamore
Income$84,120+109%
Home value$265,700+47%
Population19,083−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEKALB VS
Rochelle
Income$66,307+65%
Home value$164,300−9%
Population9,498−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEKALB VS
Campton Hills
Income$209,134+420%
Home value$547,500+203%
Population10,894−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEKALB VS
Hampshire
Income$94,773+136%
Home value$329,800+82%
Population9,266−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in DeKalb, Illinois?

DeKalb, Illinois has about 43,862 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in DeKalb, Illinois?

The typical household in DeKalb, Illinois earns about $40,228 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 $180,900, and the typical rent is about $781 a month.

How educated are people in DeKalb, Illinois?

About 35.0% 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 26.3% 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 8,937 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.

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

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