United States › Illinois › DeKalb CITY · 2020 ACS
DeKalb Illinois · 40,290 residents · 17.3 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
DeKalb is home to 40,290 people in Illinois. This skews young, with a median age of 27.7. 42% of homes are owner-occupied. The poverty rate is 26.4%, above the 12.8% national rate. Households here earn about 35% less than in Illinois as a whole. People stay put here: 76% were in the same home a year ago.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 27.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 13%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 23.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
34K 37K 40K 43K 46K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 DeKalb Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $44,223
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,153 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,261 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Education & health services 0.2%
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$165,500
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $126,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$889
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $565 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 41.9% in 2000
57.5% rent
from 2.50 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 4.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 75.6%(29,479)
Hispanic / Latino 9%(3,527)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 55.1%(22,211)
Hispanic / Latino 17.8%(7,185)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data from 38.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 87.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 71.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 12.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 67.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 34.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
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 from 9.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 29%(459)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.6%(310)
Share of the 1,581 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
Campton Hills
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Home value $547,500 +231%
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DEKALB VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in DeKalb, Illinois? DeKalb, Illinois has about 40,290 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in DeKalb, Illinois? The typical household in DeKalb, Illinois earns about $44,223 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 $165,500, and the typical rent is about $889 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 26.4% 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 5,365 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.
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