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DeKalb, Illinois

city · DeKalb County

At a glance

40,443
Population
$204,700
Median home value (all homes)
33% below U.S. median
$266,477
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$1,029/mo
Median rent
24% below U.S. median
$46,481
Median household income
41% below U.S. median
23.8 min
Average commute
90.8%
Homes with broadband
84.11%
Locations with fiber available
10.2%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 97 — 3% below the national average. how it's computed

Housing15% below
Goods & services4% above
Utilities15% below
Taxes9% above
Insurance18% below
Commute cost14% below
For business: Illinois is CBII band 3/5 · time to build band 2/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Nearest 4-year college1 mi
Nearest community college7 mi
Nearest technical college0 mi
High school graduates88.1%
College graduates33.7%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city DeKalb
The City of DeKalb's Economic Development page describes DeKalb as a growing northern Illinois city anchored along the I-88 corridor, with a focus on economic and environmental sustainability, educational partnerships, and collaboration among the City, Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, and County Economic Development Corporation to grow the community.
county DeKalb County Eco Dev Corp
DCEDC is DeKalb County's economic development organization that provides information about development initiatives, enterprise zones, financing assistance, and services for businesses and residents.
state Ameren Economic Development Services
Ameren provides energy services in Illinois and Missouri, including energy efficiency programs, electric vehicles, renewables, and economic development resources for businesses.
state Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is the state's commerce department focused on creating equitable economic opportunities by attracting and supporting job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ workforce, fostering innovation, and advancing the clean energy economy.
state Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce & Eco Dev
Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development is a regional economic development organization with a focus on business retention and expansion for both small businesses and large industrial corporations.
state NW Illinois Economic Development
NW Illinois Economic Development (NWILED) promotes economic development by fostering business growth and assisting expanding and relocating businesses, providing access to resources to start and grow their businesses, and coordinating with government and business partners.
state Northwest Illinois Development Alliance
NW Illinois Economic Development (NWILED) promotes economic development by fostering business growth and assisting expanding and relocating businesses in cooperation with government and business partners. It supports entrepreneurs by providing access to resources to start and grow their businesses and aims to create a welcoming business environment by matching the skills of the available workforce with business needs.
state Quad Cities First
Community development organization focused on local business growth; the Quad Cities Chamber helps members connect, collaborate and grow, advocates for business at city halls, in state legislatures and in Washington, D.C., and supports small and minority business development.
state Research Park at University of Illinois
Research Park is a leading technology hub on the University of Illinois campus that cultivates startups and accelerates corporate innovation. It hosts 120+ companies and over 2,000 affiliated employees, with EnterpriseWorks serving as the incubator for early-stage tech firms.
state Southwestern Illinois Development Authority
The Southwestern Illinois Development Authority (SWIDA) is a quasi-governmental, municipal corporation created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1987 to promote and enhance community and economic development in Bond, Clinton, Madison and St. Clair counties. It operates without tax dollars and uses bonds and other financing tools, real estate development services and technical development assistance.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateNo

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