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Living in
DeKalb.
About
Life in DeKalb
If you're considering DeKalb, know that you're looking at a college town that functions as both a regional hub and a bedroom community for Chicago commuters. Northern Illinois University defines much of the character here—student housing, campus events, and the university calendar shape the rhythm of the city. That said, there's a real local economy beyond campus: major distribution centers and warehouses mean steady employment, and the median household income of about $46,500 with a median home value around $203,000 reflects a relatively affordable Midwest reality compared to most of the Chicago metro area.
DeKalb at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.9%
Foreign-Born
9.1%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
+0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in DeKalb: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In DeKalb, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (47.4%), and 11.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.8%
of residents
65 and Older
11.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.3%
of households
Married Couples
26.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 19% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in DeKalb
In DeKalb, rent runs 19% below the IL average, and home values are 22% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
62.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
38.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,607
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $260,812 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in DeKalb
Unemployment in DeKalb is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What DeKalb Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.8 min avg
How DeKalb residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In DeKalb, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 26 mi
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Regional airport · few flights146k passengers boarded in 2025
- 44 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 18% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in DeKalb runs 18% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
268.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,226.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
DeKalb Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
80.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
DeKalb County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In DeKalb County, which includes DeKalb, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 25 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 15 | Hail | None reported |
| 2018 | 10 | Hail | $27,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
DeKalb County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kane County, IL (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 16 miles from DeKalb) is typically good — 226 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
226
per year
Moderate Days
130
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Kane County, IL (16 mi away)
Climate81°F summers, 16°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
DeKalb has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 16°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/16°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.9"
Annual Snowfall
33.1"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
141
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 13°F | 1.69" |
| Feb | 33°F | 17°F | 1.71" |
| Mar | 45°F | 27°F | 2.24" |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.56" |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 4.79" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 4.57" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.00" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.06" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.32" |
| Oct | 62°F | 41°F | 2.96" |
| Nov | 46°F | 30°F | 2.31" |
| Dec | 34°F | 19°F | 2.04" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in DeKalb
DeKalb has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in DeKalb
DeKalb's student/teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 33.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in DeKalb
Public · 4-year · 11,301 students · in-state tuition $13,792 · 64% graduate · median earnings $61,351 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 61 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for DeKalb
DeKalb has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (61 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
61 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in DeKalb
Dekalb Public Library
309 Oak Street, Dekalb
Cities Near DeKalb
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to DeKalb?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
DeKalb FAQ
Is DeKalb, Illinois affordable?⌄
DeKalb's median rent is $1,029/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $46,481/year. Median home value is $204,700.
Is DeKalb, Illinois safe?⌄
DeKalb's violent crime rate was 269 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2226 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in DeKalb, Illinois?⌄
DeKalb has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in DeKalb, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in DeKalb is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,029/month and median household income is $46,481/year. The median home value is $204,700. About 62% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in DeKalb, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in DeKalb is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from