The Town Files

DeKalb County, Illinois

100,703 people. The median home is worth $243,600 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $70,724.

Towns in DeKalb County

Towns in DeKalb County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
DeKalb40,290$204,700$46,48126.1
Sycamore18,577$265,700$84,12036.1
Sandwich7,221$255,700$80,76839.3
Genoa5,298$225,200$82,12835.7
Cortland4,398$233,200$73,97131.5

People and housing

DeKalb CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$243,600$156,600
Median rent$1,049$960
Median household income$70,724$72,500
Median age32.740.4
Bachelor's degree or higher33.0%21.8%
Below the poverty line14.8%9.9%

Jobs and pay

36,272 jobs in 2024, average pay $56,896 a year.

Largest industries in DeKalb CountyRetail5,317 jobs · $38,109Health care & social assistan…5,124 jobs · $62,625Manufacturing3,364 jobs · $69,749Hotels & restaurants2,863 jobs · $21,467Construction2,024 jobs · $90,032Other services1,241 jobs · $35,257
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in DeKalb County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 603 storm events in DeKalb County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in DeKalb County by type since 1996Hail77Flood21Drought16Tornado23High Wind22Heavy Snow10Flash Flood29Winter Storm33Winter Weather24Cold/Wind Chill14
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

DeKalb County has been included in 12 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
May 10, 2013FloodDR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
October 3, 2008Severe StormDR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding
September 25, 2007Severe StormDR-1729: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).