At a Glance
Median Income
$46,564
$27,180 per capita
Home Value
$202,900
Zillow: $247,603
Median Rent
$1,030/mo
39.6% of income on rent
Violent Crime
577/100K
3,026/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
35.7%
89.6% high school+
Unemployment
7.2%
18.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.9%
16.1% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F
275 sunny days/yr
How DeKalb Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows DeKalb's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is DeKalb a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
DeKalb residents earn a median household income of $46,564 , which is 38% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $27,180. The unemployment rate stands at 7.2% (100% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 18.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,988 business establishments, including 212 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in DeKalb is $202,900 , 28% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $247,603. Median rent is $1,030/month, with 39.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1976.
Safety & Crime
DeKalb reports 577 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 52% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,026/100K. The murder rate is 2.4/100K.
Education
35.7% of adults in DeKalb hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(6% above the national average).
89.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
DeKalb has an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C).
Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 37.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population40,464
Median Age25.4 yrs
Density2,310/mi²
Male / Female50% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans4.0%
Economy
C+
Median Income$46,564
Per Capita$27,180
Unemployment7.2%
Poverty18.9%
County GDP$5,661M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,094
Housing
A
Home Value$202,900
Rent$1,030
Ownership42.5%
Zillow$247,603
Housing Units17,011
Rent Burden39.6%
Crime
F
Violent577/100K
Property3,026/100K
Murder2.4/100K
Assault401/100K
Burglary382/100K
Health
Obesity39.9%
Diabetes12.1%
Smoking16.1%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death7,708/100K
Climate
Avg Temp49°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain37.3 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation886 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+35.7%
High School+89.6%
Graduate+15.7%
School Score5.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 48% / D 50%
Commute23 min
Broadband91.2%
Internet Speed113 Mbps
EV Stations16
Libraries11
Did You Know?
DeKalb was founded in 1837.
The median home in DeKalb was built in 1976.
The nearest airport is Chicago/Rockford International (26 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.442 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
10.8% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 113 Mbps.
There are 212 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 14 fatal vehicle crashes.
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