DeKalb County, Illinois
Among the top 2% of US counties for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 2% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 72% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 22% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 77% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A+, better than 98% of US counties
- top 6% for broadband access
- top 14% for amenities nearby
- bottom 1% for property tax rate
DeKalb County is a county in Illinois with about 101,000 residents. It grades A+ for lifestyle & connectivity and F for affordability. Standout strengths include broadband access, amenities nearby, and comfortable days. It rates lower on estimated total tax burden and property tax rate.
Official websitedekalbcounty.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
v.cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
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70%43%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.2 in1.8 in
humid 99%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$69k71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$50kbetter than 20% of US counties
Home Value$219k73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 22% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 12% of US counties
Property Tax Rate2.62%better than 1% of US counties
Income Tax5.00%better than 46% of US counties
Sales Tax8.86%better than 15% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden16.28%better than 5% of US counties
Unemployment7.0%better than 16% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)22°F15th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F21st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation37.7 in37th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall34.5 inbetter than 25% of US counties
Sunny Days235 daysbetter than 49% of US counties
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 64% of US counties
Comfortable Days94 daysbetter than 85% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk80.8better than 19% of US counties
School Quality71.2better than 75% of US counties
Violent Crime1719/100kbetter than 11% of US counties
Property Crime1524/100kbetter than 25% of US counties
Community
Population100,68681st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age31.83rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3661st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9939th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven14th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)74.4%40th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)7.5%72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)12.3%77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)2.4%86th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.4%50th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time26 minbetter than 35% of US counties
Walkability7.0/20better than 75% of US counties
Airport Distance45 mibetter than 83% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access91.6%better than 94% of US counties
Amenities Nearby9.93better than 86% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 76% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is DeKalb County an affordable place to live?
- DeKalb County is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $50k, better than 20% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in DeKalb County?
- The median home value in DeKalb County is $219k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in DeKalb County?
- Median household income in DeKalb County is $69k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in DeKalb County?
- Median gross rent in DeKalb County is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is DeKalb County safe?
- DeKalb County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1719/100k (better than 11%). Property crime is 1524/100k.
- What is the weather like in DeKalb County?
- DeKalb County averages 72°F in July and 22°F in January, with 37.7 in of annual precipitation and about 235 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in DeKalb County?
- Public-school quality in DeKalb County is above average, scoring better than 75% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in DeKalb County?
- The average one-way commute in DeKalb County is 26 min.
Other counties in Illinois
Explore Illinois
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)