The Town FilesDe Kalb, Mississippi
Town in Kemper County · population 877 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $75,800
- Household income
- $47,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 41.0
De Kalb is a town of 877 people in Kemper County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $75,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 91% of Mississippi towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Mississippi towns.
- #14 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Mississippi
- #18 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #18 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #23 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Mississippi
- #24 in 25 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Cheapest Homes
How De Kalb ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in De Kalb is worth $75,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $47,500, which is more affordable than 96% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $675 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | De Kalb | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $75,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $675 | $820 |
| Median household income | $47,500 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in De Kalb
| People | De Kalb | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.5% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 11.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in De Kalb
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 36.5°F. About 54.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Kalb since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 3, 1966 about 1.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 29 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on April 15, 2011.
Severe weather in Kemper County since 1996
Kemper County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4598: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Kemper County
Kemper County had 1,775 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,014 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in De Kalb itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in De Kalb
4 public schools with 630 students, about 9.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEMPER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 337 | 11.2 |
| KEMPER COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 162 | 10.1 |
| KEMPER COUNTY UPPER ELEMENTARY | 4-8 | 131 | 8.7 |
| STENNIS VOC TECH COMPLEX | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near De Kalb
- Scooba, MS11.1 mi · 744 people · home —
- Meridian Station, MS15.8 mi · 581 people · home —
- Bogue Chitto, MS15.8 mi · 864 people · home —
- Collinsville, MS22.6 mi · 1,984 people · home $170,800
- Tucker, MS23.3 mi · 642 people · home $69,700
- Marion, MS23.7 mi · 1,751 people · home $193,800
- Macon, MS24.8 mi · 2,582 people · home $97,400
- Toomsuba, MS25.2 mi · 778 people · home $224,600
De Kalb questions
Is De Kalb, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, De Kalb scores better for retirees than 91% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 40%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in De Kalb?
The median owner-occupied home in De Kalb is valued at $75,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,500, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $675 a month.
What is the weather like in De Kalb?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 36.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does De Kalb get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Kalb since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on March 3, 1966. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)