Cost of Living in DeKalb County, Illinois
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How DeKalb County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
DeKalb County ranks #2,606 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 17%)
Sourced county brief
DeKalb County Official GRAPI Reaches 33.3 Percent
The official GRAPI in DeKalb County, Illinois, was 33.3 percent, which is 7.2 percentage points above the Illinois unweighted county mean of 26.1 percent. Median gross rent was $1,049 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $867. Median home value in the county was $243,600, which is $90,580 higher than the Illinois unweighted county mean of $153,020. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $1,533, exceeding the state unweighted mean of $960. Renter-household median income was estimated at $35,877. These figures provide a reproducible snapshot of housing tenure costs and household incomes as estimated by the American Community Survey for the 2020-2024 period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: DeKalb County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.3% of renter household income in DeKalb County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,049 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,533. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $41,960 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Illinois unweighted mean of county median rents is $867 per month. DeKalb County's $1,049 median is 20.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in DeKalb County
Rent Burden
17.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,650
per month
Owner Cost Burden
26.0%
of gross income
The median home in DeKalb County may be a stretch
Median home value is $243,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,945 vs. your max of $1,650.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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