1st Advantage MortgageIn DeKalb County, Illinois, the typical household earns $70,724 a year and the typical rent is $1,049. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Illinois before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of DeKalb County
- Work, industries and travel time in DeKalb County
- Income in DeKalb County compared with Illinois
- Renting and owning in DeKalb County
- DeKalb County and the counties next door
- Places inside DeKalb County
- Who lives in DeKalb County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in DeKalb County
- What a median DeKalb County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in DeKalb County
- Licensing and complaints for DeKalb County
- More guides for DeKalb County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of DeKalb County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts DeKalb County's population at 100,703; only 19 of Illinois's 102 county-level areas are larger. It covers 631 square miles of land, or about 160 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). DeKalb is the biggest of its 13 Census places, at roughly 40,443 people (40% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in DeKalb County
The biggest employer of DeKalb County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 26% locally and 24% for Illinois. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 75% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.4% of the total (11.0% statewide).
| Sector | DeKalb County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +2.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.2% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -3.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | +1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Income in DeKalb County compared with Illinois
Half of DeKalb County households take in less than $70,724 a year and half take in more, 15% below the Illinois median of $83,390. In the state ranking that is 42nd of 102.
| Income band | Share in DeKalb County | Difference from Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.3% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.2% | +2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.2% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -5.5 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. Census counts 14.8% of DeKalb County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. None of these numbers decides a DeKalb County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in DeKalb County
Renters in DeKalb County pay a median of $1,049 a month, 18% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. 57% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 33% spend half or more. Home values center on $243,600, or 3.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 61% of homes. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | DeKalb County | Illinois figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,049/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $243,600 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.1% | 2.3% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
DeKalb County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 18 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than DeKalb County; Kendall County is highest at $111,601 and Lee County lowest at $70,292.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County | - | $70,724 | $1,049/mo | 61% |
| Kane County, IL | 18 mi | $103,163 | $1,453/mo | 76% |
| Kendall County, IL | 27 mi | $111,601 | $1,781/mo | 84% |
| Lee County, IL | 29 mi | $70,292 | $894/mo | 74% |
| Boone County, IL | 29 mi | $84,571 | $1,041/mo | 82% |
| Ogle County, IL | 30 mi | $82,132 | $936/mo | 75% |
| McHenry County, IL | 34 mi | $104,802 | $1,401/mo | 83% |
Places inside DeKalb County
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in DeKalb County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 81,022 people, so roughly 20% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $107,045 at the median in Maple Park, $46,481 in DeKalb. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb | city | 40,443 | $46,481 | $1,029 | 3 mi |
| Sycamore | city | 18,559 | $84,120 | $1,140 | 8 mi |
| Genoa | city | 5,492 | $82,128 | $940 | 14 mi |
| Cortland | town | 4,564 | $73,971 | $1,552 | 5 mi |
| Hinckley | village | 2,331 | $86,823 | $1,355 | 11 mi |
| Maple Park | village | 1,573 | $107,045 | $1,728 | 8 mi |
| Somonauk | village | 1,569 | $84,583 | $993 | 18 mi |
| Kirkland | village | 1,525 | $94,338 | $875 | 14 mi |
| Waterman | village | 1,448 | $100,139 | $877 | 9 mi |
| Kingston | village | 1,352 | $88,295 | $995 | 14 mi |
| Malta | village | 1,274 | $80,625 | $1,063 | 6 mi |
| Shabbona | village | 572 | $63,750 | $975 | 11 mi |
| Lee | village | 320 | $82,000 | $1,188 | 11 mi |
Who lives in DeKalb County, in numbers
33% of DeKalb County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| DeKalb County | Illinois | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.0% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.9% |
Before borrowing in DeKalb County
What the DeKalb County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many DeKalb County budgets.
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
What a median DeKalb County budget can carry
DeKalb County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $70,724 a year is $5,894 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,049 uses 18%
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,485 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,049, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in DeKalb County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Licensing and complaints for DeKalb County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with DeKalb County borrowers answers to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Illinois guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for DeKalb County
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in DeKalb County?
$70,724 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,390 for Illinois. It ranks 42nd of 102 in the state.
How does DeKalb County rent compare with Illinois?
$1,049 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 18% below.
I live in a small DeKalb County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers DeKalb, Sycamore, Genoa, Cortland, Hinckley and 8 more.
Are DeKalb County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in DeKalb County?
Start with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.