Town guide

DeKalb, Illinois

DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, home to about 40,443 people across 16 square miles. Its ZIP code is 60115.

Homes sold for a median of $172 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.

Population40,4432,504 per sq mi
Median home value$204,700Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$172Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking45%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in DeKalb

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside DeKalb. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

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We’re writing up DeKalb’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

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Around DeKalb

Distances

Nearest major airportChicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)44 miles away
Closer regional airportChicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)27 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Chicago, IL55 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of DeKalb; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents DeKalb

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

DeKalb had 40,290 residents in the 2020 census, up 3% since 2000.

It’s the 41st largest of 1,450 towns in Illinois by population.

DeKalb County grew from 31,756 residents in 1900 to 100,420 in 2020.

DeKalb population by census2000: 39,018, 2010: 43,862, 2020: 40,29039,018200043,862201040,2902020

DeKalb County, 1900–2020

DeKalb County population, 1900 to 20201900: 31,756, 1910: 33,457, 1920: 31,339, 1930: 32,644, 1940: 34,388, 1950: 40,781, 1960: 51,714, 1970: 71,654, 1980: 74,624, 1990: 77,932, 2000: 88,969, 2010: 105,160, 2020: 100,42032K’00’1031K’20’3034K’40’5052K’60’7075K’80’9089K’00’10100K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 83°F in summer, and winter lows average 13°F. About 37.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 33 inches of snow.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near DeKalbJan: high 28°F, low 13°F, 1.7 in; Feb: high 33°F, low 17°F, 1.7 in; Mar: high 45°F, low 27°F, 2.2 in; Apr: high 59°F, low 37°F, 3.6 in; May: high 70°F, low 49°F, 4.8 in; Jun: high 80°F, low 60°F, 4.6 in; Jul: high 83°F, low 63°F, 4 in; Aug: high 81°F, low 61°F, 4.1 in; Sep: high 75°F, low 53°F, 3.3 in; Oct: high 62°F, low 41°F, 3 in; Nov: high 46°F, low 30°F, 2.3 in; Dec: high 34°F, low 19°F, 2 in28°13°Jan1.733°17°Feb1.745°27°Mar2.259°37°Apr3.670°49°May4.880°60°Jun4.683°63°Jul4.081°61°Aug4.175°53°Sep3.362°41°Oct3.046°30°Nov2.334°19°Dec2.0Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, De Kalb, IL weather station (3 miles away).

Jobs in DeKalb County

29,129 jobs at 1,975 businesses in DeKalb County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in DeKalb CountyHealth care and social assistance: 5,031 jobs; Retail trade: 4,613 jobs; Manufacturing: 4,287 jobs; Transportation and warehousing: 3,304 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 3,279 jobs; Construction: 1,751 jobs; Administrative and support: 1,255 jobs; Professional services: 1,181 jobsHealth care and social assistance 17% Retail trade 16% Manufacturing 15% Transportation and warehousing 11% Hotels and restaurants 11% Construction 6% Administrative and support 4% Professional services 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

612 doctors and other health care providers list an office in DeKalb.

Nearest hospitals

  • Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 5 of 5 · DekalbUnder a mile
  • Rochelle Community HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · Rochelle15.9 miles
  • Valley West Community HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Sandwich19.6 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors20
Specialist doctors88
Dentists37
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants52
Mental health providers351
Physical and occupational therapists51
Optometrists6
Chiropractors7
Pharmacies8

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around DeKalb

Parks (27 nearby)

  • Prairie Park · 107 acres1.8 mi
  • North 40 · 68 acres2.8 mi
  • Rotary Park · 20 acres2.2 mi
  • Mason Park · 11 acres2.0 mi
  • Ellwood · 7 acres2.4 mi
  • Annie's Woods · 7 acres2.5 mi

Grocery stores (1 nearby)

  • Schnucks1.7 mi

Pharmacies (2 nearby)

  • Wired Nutrition2.1 mi
  • CVS Pharmacy2.2 mi

Libraries (2 nearby)

  • Haish Memorial Library2.2 mi
  • Founders Memorial Library2.4 mi

Museums (1 nearby)

  • Ellwood House Museum2.4 mi

Theaters and performance venues (2 nearby)

  • Egyptian Theater2.1 mi
  • Boutell Memorial Concert Hall2.4 mi

Counts are within about 3 miles of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Colleges, teams and notable people

Established in 1837.

Colleges and universities

  • Northern Illinois University

Notable people born here

  • Cindy Crawford (1966) · American model (born 1966)
  • Richard Jenkins (1947) · American actor
  • Barbara Hale (1922) · American actress (1922–2017)
  • W. Willard Wirtz (1912) · American Secretary of Labor (1912-2010)
  • A. J. Bramlett (1977) · American basketball player (born 1977)

Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.

Schools in DeKalb

Public schools here are run by DeKalb CUSD 428. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (11)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
DeKalb Early Lrng and Dev CtrDekalbPre-K281Public0.7 mi
Founders Elementary SchoolDekalbK–5565Public1.4 mi
Gwendolyn Brooks Elem SchDekalbK–5328Public4.6 mi
Jefferson Elem SchoolDekalbK–5308Public3.3 mi
Lincoln Elementary SchoolDeKalbK–5272Public1.2 mi
Littlejohn Elem SchoolDeKalbK–5362Public2.8 mi
Tyler Elementary SchoolDe KalbK–5265Public1.4 mi
Clinton Rosette Middle SchoolDeKalb6–8575Public2.5 mi
Huntley Middle SchoolDekalb6–8865Public0.7 mi
DeKalb High SchoolDekalb9–122,134Public3.7 mi
Beyond One Barb Transition CenterDekalb12—Alternative Education1.0 mi
Private schools (1)
SchoolGradesStudentsAffiliationDistance
St Mary SchoolDekalbPre-K–8203Roman Catholic0.9 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Where DeKalb is

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Towns near DeKalb

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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.