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City · 40,443 residents · DeKalb County, Illinois

DeKalb , Illinois

In DeKalb, a typical home is worth $204,700 and typical rent is $1,029 a month. Compared with all of DeKalb County, typical household income is 34% lower, the typical home value is 16% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 19 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $204,700

    16% below the county

    22% below Illinois

    • DeKalb
    • County
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $1,029a month

    About the same as the county

    19% below Illinois

    • DeKalb
    • County
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $46,481a year

    34% below the county

    44% below Illinois

    • DeKalb
    • County
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    42%

    19 points below the county

    25 points below Illinois

    • DeKalb
    • County
    • Illinois

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$260,812
4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,320 a month
7.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

DeKalb is in DeKalb County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of DeKalb County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets DeKalb apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. DeKalb has the 4th lowest homeownership rate of the 337 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people (42%).

  2. DeKalb has the 13th lowest typical household income of the 337 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people ($46,481).

  3. DeKalb has the 13th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 291 cities in Illinois with more than 5,000 people (66%).

  4. Nearby, in Rochelle, the typical home value is $164,300: 20% less than in DeKalb ($204,700).

  5. The typical home in DeKalb is worth $204,700, 16% less than in DeKalb County as a whole ($243,600).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in DeKalb

What homes there are in DeKalb, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in DeKalb; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 41%, less than in DeKalb County (58%).

Year built

In DeKalb, half of the homes were built before 1976; in DeKalb County, before 1978.

There are fewer big homes in DeKalb than in DeKalb County: 47% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 60%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 97% of owner-occupied homes in DeKalb are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for DeKalb County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

About 88% of rented homes in DeKalb cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for DeKalb County ($1,481).

With a mortgage

$1,692 a month

DeKalb County: $1,866 a month

Without a mortgage

$864 a month

DeKalb County: $869 a month

Owners with a mortgage

64%

DeKalb County: 67%

In DeKalb, 64% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,692 a month, against $1,866 in DeKalb County. Without one it drops to $864.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in DeKalb rose 30%; in DeKalb County, it rose 41%.

Rents in DeKalb rose at about the same pace as in DeKalb County: 14% since 2015–2019, against 13%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureDeKalbDeKalb CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy 3.3%2.6%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.0%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.202.422.462.53
Drive alone 71%75%66%69%
Carpool 12%10%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%6%3%
Walk or bike 8%5%3%3%
Work from home 6%9%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in DeKalb County, the rental vacancy rate in DeKalb is 3.3%.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.20 on average, against 2.42 in DeKalb County.

Many here get to work on foot or by bike: 8%, more than in DeKalb County (5%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in DeKalb?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in DeKalb, worth $204,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 52% of the typical household income in DeKalb, which is $46,481 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $85,921 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of DeKalb County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in DeKalb. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,165 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,005

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$200,992
Total interest
$289,180
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,457 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,085 a month

  • Tight

    $1,085 to $1,394 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,394 a month

    Your payment · 52%

Compared with the typical household income in DeKalb ($46,481 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,005
Principal & interest$1,362
Property tax$467
Home insurance$85
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$91

You need at least $7,165 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

DeKalb and DeKalb County

DeKalb is in DeKalb County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

DeKalb's own numbers

Typical home value
$204,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,029
Typical yearly household income
$46,481
Households that own their home
42%
Effective property tax rate
2.74%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of DeKalb County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,481
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+55%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.7%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of DeKalb County.

Everything about DeKalb County

Buying

Buying a home in DeKalb

A typical home in DeKalb is worth $204,700: 16% below the county and 22% below Illinois. With the typical household income in DeKalb ($46,481 a year), a typical home costs 4.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • DeKalb 4.4 years
  • County 3.4 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in DeKalb County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in DeKalb County rose 85% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of DeKalb County.

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.4% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +55% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +85% +65% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

DeKalb next to DeKalb County, Illinois and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • DeKalb $204,700
  • County $243,600
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • DeKalb $1,029
  • County $1,049
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • DeKalb $46,481
  • County $70,724
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
DeKalb next to DeKalb County and Illinois
Measure DeKalb DeKalb County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $204,700 $243,600 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,029 $1,049 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $46,481 $70,724 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 42% 61% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $5,607 $5,974 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.74% 2.45% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 66% 57% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below DeKalb County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in DeKalb

For a typical $204,700 home in DeKalb, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, DeKalb's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,005a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,165
    Cash to close
    $13,306
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $91

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,967a month

    Down payment
    $10,235
    Cash to close
    $16,376
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $97

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,662a month

    Down payment
    $40,940
    Cash to close
    $47,081
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,851a month

    Down payment
    $30,705
    Cash to close
    $36,846
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for DeKalb and for DeKalb County.

Property tax

Effective rate in DeKalb

2.74%of the home’s value each year

$5,607 a year for the typical owner in DeKalb.

  • DeKalb 2.74%
  • County 2.45%
  • Illinois 2.01%

What Illinois publishes General Homestead Exemption (Illinois Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in DeKalb County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of DeKalb County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.7%
521
Of those, with NFIP insurance
21%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.7% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 21% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in DeKalb

Typical rent in DeKalb is $1,029 a month: about the same as the county. In DeKalb, 66% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of DeKalb County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,481 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.48 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of DeKalb County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,052 $20.23 $42,080
1 bedroom $1,155 $22.21 $46,200
2 bedrooms $1,481 $28.48 $59,240
3 bedrooms $2,006 $38.58 $80,240
4 bedrooms $2,301 $44.25 $92,040

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in DeKalb

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). DeKalb is in ZIP code 60115.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,420: $61 less than the fair market rent for DeKalb County ($1,481).

  • 60115 $1,420$1,920

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for DeKalb when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in DeKalb

HUD lists 11 buildings with rents for lower incomes in DeKalb. These are the largest.

  • University Village Phase I-II 722 N Annie Glidden Rd, Dekalb 60115 414 low-income homes · 1 bd: 104 · 2 bd: 262 · 3 bd: 48 · In service since 2018
  • University Village Phase I & II 706 N Annie Glidden Rd, Dekalb 60115 414 homes, 345 low-income · For families (815) 758-7859
  • Golden Years Plaza 507 E Taylor St, Dekalb 60115 150 homes, 149 low-income · Run by Housing Authority Of The County Of DeKalb · Average payment: $398 a month · Average wait: 10 months (815) 758-2692
  • Gideon Court Apartments 1325 W Lincoln Hwy, Dekalb 60115 150 homes, 144 low-income · For families (815) 758-1320
  • University Village III 732 Russell Rd, Dekalb 60115 120 low-income homes · For families (815) 758-7859

See all 17 buildings in DeKalb County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in DeKalb

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in DeKalb County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in DeKalb

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for DeKalb or DeKalb County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in DeKalb the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Illinois

  • IHDAccess Home

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with deferred payments for first-time buyers in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Forgivable

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan forgiven little by little over ten years, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Deferred

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near DeKalb

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of DeKalb, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northern Illinois

    620 Wing St, Elgin · 25 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 10 more
    (815) 338-5757

  • The Neighbor Project

    32 S Broadway, Aurora · 25 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (630) 906-9400

  • Region 1 Planning Council

    127 N Wyman St, Rockford · 30 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (815) 319-4462

All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near DeKalb

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of DeKalb

HUD’s record names them for DeKalb or DeKalb County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority Of The County Of DeKalb Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (815) 758-2692

All housing agencies in Illinois Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in DeKalb County

These cities are also in DeKalb County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about DeKalb County Housing in Illinois

Nearby cities

The cities closest to DeKalb, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If DeKalb County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in DeKalb.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about DeKalb

Short answers with the numbers for DeKalb and all of DeKalb County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in DeKalb?

The typical home value in DeKalb is $204,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in DeKalb County it is $243,600.

How much does it cost to rent in DeKalb?

Typical rent in DeKalb is $1,029 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in DeKalb County is $1,481.

What is the FHA loan limit in DeKalb?

DeKalb uses the FHA limit for all of DeKalb County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in DeKalb?

The typical homeowner in DeKalb pays $5,607 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.74% of the home’s value; in DeKalb County, the rate is 2.45%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in DeKalb?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in DeKalb County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).