1st Advantage MortgageDeKalb County households have a median income of $74,331 and median rent of $861 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- DeKalb County by the numbers
- How much DeKalb County households make
- Renting and owning in DeKalb County
- Work, industries and travel time in DeKalb County
- Places inside DeKalb County
- Counties near DeKalb County
- Who lives in DeKalb County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in DeKalb County
- What a median DeKalb County budget can carry
- Four steps for DeKalb County borrowers
- Indiana rules that apply in DeKalb County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
DeKalb County by the numbers
With an estimated 43,807 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), DeKalb County ranks 35th of 92 in Indiana for population. Packed into 363 square miles, that is close to 121 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes DeKalb County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Auburn is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 13,565 people (31% of the county total).
How much DeKalb County households make
Half of DeKalb County households take in less than $74,331 a year and half take in more, 3% above the Indiana median of $71,957. That places it 28th among Indiana's 92 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | DeKalb County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.6% | -2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.9% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.1% | +1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -2.8 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 9.5% of DeKalb County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. 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
A typical DeKalb County rental runs $861 a month including utilities, which is 19% below Indiana. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. Home values center on $194,100, or 2.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 82% of homes. Median construction year: 1975.
| Home costs | DeKalb County | Indiana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $861/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $194,100 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.7% | 4.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Work, industries and travel time in DeKalb County
Manufacturing employs 34% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 20%. Compared with Indiana, the county leans toward manufacturing (34% against 18%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in DeKalb County. About 81% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of DeKalb County workers | vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 34.1% | +16.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.2% | -3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.6% | -2.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Places inside DeKalb County
7 Census places fall mainly inside DeKalb County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 25,894 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $68,750 at the median in Auburn, $54,688 in Butler. Median rent ranges from $785 in Butler to $865 in Auburn. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | city | 13,565 | $68,750 | $865 | 3 mi |
| Garrett | city | 6,642 | $64,179 | $858 | 7 mi |
| Butler | city | 2,660 | $54,688 | $785 | 7 mi |
| Waterloo | town | 2,073 | $67,083 | $829 | 4 mi |
| Altona | town | 415 | $64,237 | $1,080 | 8 mi |
| St. Joe | town | 411 | $55,000 | $805 | 8 mi |
| Corunna | town | 128 | $57,500 | n/a | 8 mi |
Counties near DeKalb County
Steuben County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, LaGrange County, is 28 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than DeKalb County; LaGrange County is highest at $84,487 and Williams County lowest at $61,048. The list crosses into Ohio, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County | - | $74,331 | $861/mo | 82% |
| Steuben County, IN | 17 mi | $74,911 | $933/mo | 79% |
| Allen County, IN | 21 mi | $70,737 | $1,021/mo | 69% |
| Noble County, IN | 21 mi | $71,723 | $832/mo | 77% |
| Williams County, OH | 25 mi | $61,048 | $791/mo | 76% |
| Defiance County, OH | 27 mi | $73,064 | $846/mo | 79% |
| LaGrange County, IN | 28 mi | $84,487 | $839/mo | 83% |
Who lives in DeKalb County, in numbers
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| DeKalb County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.2% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.5% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Before borrowing in DeKalb County
What the DeKalb County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
What a median DeKalb County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a DeKalb County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,194 gross per month ($74,331 / 12)
- Median rent: $861, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,617: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for DeKalb County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Indiana rules that apply in DeKalb County
Consumer lenders serving DeKalb County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Indiana that is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Indiana: Indiana personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Indiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is DeKalb County a high-income county?
Its $74,331 median ranks 28th of 92 Indiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is DeKalb County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $861 against $1,062 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should DeKalb County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of DeKalb County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the DeKalb County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Auburn, Garrett, Butler, Waterloo, Altona.
Does living in DeKalb County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a DeKalb County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.