What it's like to live in DeKalb
DeKalb is a small city in Illinois with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. DeKalb deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How DeKalb compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to DeKalb
Based on DeKalb's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,058
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $41,160 a year
- 62% of DeKalb renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$40,940
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,470
- Homes cost 4.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 27% below US
$1,029/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,029 a month. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $204,700. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $204,700 · 62% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 18% below US
269 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2226/100k · DeKalb Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 6% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 16°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pullman National Historical Park (61 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
DeKalb's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,029/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near DeKalb
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