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CITY · 2020 ACS

DeKalb

Illinois · 40,290 residents · 17.33 sq mi
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The short version

DeKalb has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,223. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $165,500. At a median age of 27.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 26.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 35% less than the Illinois median.

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

Total population
40,290
+3%since 2000
from 39,018 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
27.7
+20%since 2000
from 23.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
34K37K40K43K46K1990201020202024DeKalb
202440K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.9%(2,363)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(2,339)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.7%(2,291)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 1910.2%(4,102)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2416.9%(6,797)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3416.2%(6,546)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.2%(4,121)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 548.6%(3,480)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 648.8%(3,563)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 746.6%(2,648)
US avg: 10%
75 to 843.1%(1,267)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.9%(773)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,223
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,153 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,819
+53%since 2000
from $16,261 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
29.3%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 22.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
26.4%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 21.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade10.9%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Wholesale trade3.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$165,500
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $126,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$889
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $565 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
42.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 41.9% in 2000
57.5% rent
Afford Score
3.7
−23%since 2009
from 4.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic55.1%(22,211)
Black18.1%(7,296)
Hispanic / Latino17.8%(7,185)
Asian3.9%(1,570)
Other4.9%(1,965)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican12.1%(5,205)
Puerto Rican1.7%(709)
Cuban0.4%(174)
Chilean0.3%(146)
Colombian0.2%(95)
Spaniard0.1%(36)
Peruvian0%(21)
Asian origin
Chinese1.3%(547)
Filipino0.6%(249)
Korean0.4%(176)
Vietnamese0.1%(43)
Pakistani0.1%(43)
Japanese0.1%(37)
Indonesian0.1%(35)
Malaysian0%(20)
Thai0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(15)
Ancestry
German22.1%(9,499)
Irish16%(6,872)
English7.4%(3,199)
Italian6.8%(2,942)
Polish6.4%(2,732)
Swedish3.9%(1,654)
Norwegian2.7%(1,139)
French2.6%(1,108)
American1.5%(657)
Scottish1.5%(633)
Czech0.9%(372)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.9%(367)
British0.7%(308)
Hungarian0.6%(244)
Greek0.6%(237)
Welsh0.5%(225)
Dutch0.5%(222)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(219)
Ukrainian0.5%(214)
Palestinian0.5%(203)
Danish0.4%(190)
Croatian0.4%(172)
Slovak0.4%(158)
West Indian0.3%(150)
Jamaican0.3%(150)
Swiss0.3%(125)
Lebanese0.2%(97)
Nigerian0.2%(90)
Finnish0.2%(87)
Austrian0.2%(85)
Lithuanian0.2%(79)
Slovene0.2%(79)
Australian0.2%(76)
Belgian0.2%(74)
Brazilian0.1%(62)
Israeli0.1%(62)
Romanian0.1%(50)
Jordanian0.1%(43)
Ghanaian0.1%(43)
Kenyan0.1%(34)
Latvian0.1%(32)
Armenian0%(16)
Bulgarian0%(15)
Ethiopian0%(14)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
38.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 38.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.4%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 87.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
15.3%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+32%since 2000
from 16.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
75.4%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 71.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
9.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 12.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
67.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2011
from 67.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.8%
−31.9 ptssince 2009
from 63.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
50.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
9.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.0%
−83.4 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married59.1%(9,815)
Married31.1%(5,166)
Widowed1.9%(313)
Divorced8%(1,325)
Women 15+
Never married56.5%(10,014)
Married25.4%(4,498)
Widowed6.9%(1,222)
Divorced11.2%(1,990)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare DeKalb to nearby cities

DEKALB VS
Sycamore
Income$84,120+90%
Home value$265,700+61%
Population19,083−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEKALB VS
Rochelle
Income$66,307+50%
Home value$164,300−1%
Population9,498−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEKALB VS
Campton Hills
Income$209,134+373%
Home value$547,500+231%
Population10,894−73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DEKALB VS
Hampshire
Income$94,773+114%
Home value$329,800+99%
Population9,266−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →