DeKalb County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
DeKalb County, Illinois had an estimated 101,335 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 100,514, across 631 square miles. County output reached $5.66 bn in 2024, 1,975 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 67 7(a) approvals worth $59.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
DeKalb County
How many people live in DeKalb County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024100,703
- Households39,550
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$70,724
- Median age32.7
- Median gross rent$1,049 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$243,600
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher33.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over60,637
- Population under 1821,723
- Share under 1821.6 percent
- Population 65 and over14,020
- Share 65 and over13.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6464,960
- Civilian labor force55,667
- Unemployment rate6.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.5 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties20th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included616th of 3,222
DeKalb County is the 20th largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.6 percent against 13.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
DeKalb County
Is DeKalb County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024101,335
- Census 2020 base population100,514
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.82 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024674
- Births, 20241,020
- Deaths, 2024824
- Natural change, 2024196
- Net domestic migration, 2024-41
- Net international migration, 2024511
- Total net migration, 2024470
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-1,365
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1544th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.82 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
DeKalb County
Where are people moving to DeKalb County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,989
- People arriving, from those returns5,031
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,291
- Net household movement-302
- Adjusted gross income arriving$155.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-51.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$51,918
- Average income of a leaving household$62,817
- Largest single originKane County (661 households)
- Largest single destinationKane County (406 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kane County | 661 | 1,151 | $35.4 m |
| Cook County | 422 | 736 | $17.0 m |
| DuPage County | 262 | 421 | $14.7 m |
| Kendall County | 207 | 397 | $12.3 m |
| LaSalle County | 131 | 221 | $6.5 m |
| Ogle County | 110 | 181 | $5.0 m |
| Will County | 89 | 154 | $5.1 m |
| McHenry County | 82 | 125 | $5.0 m |
Households arriving report $10,899 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Kane County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
DeKalb County
What is the DeKalb County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.66 bn
- County GDP, 2023$5.54 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.2 percent
- GDP change over five years26.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes20th of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes669th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$56,218
Output grew 2.2 percent in the latest year and 26.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
DeKalb County
Employment by industry in DeKalb County
- Covered employment, annual average36,272
- Establishments reporting1,988
- Average annual pay$56,896
- Average weekly wage$1,094
- Retail trade, employment5,317
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,109
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,124
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$62,625
- Manufacturing, employment3,364
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$69,749
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,863
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,467
- Construction, employment2,024
- Other services, except public administration, employment1,241
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 5,317 | 225 | $38,109 |
| Health care and social assistance | 5,124 | 174 | $62,625 |
| Manufacturing | 3,364 | 128 | $69,749 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,863 | 204 | $21,467 |
| Construction | 2,024 | 253 | $90,032 |
| Other services, except public administration | 1,241 | 197 | $35,257 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 915 | 104 | $49,487 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 754 | 149 | $59,319 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 5,317 jobs, 14.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
DeKalb County
How many businesses are in DeKalb County?
- Establishments, all industries1,975
- Employment at those establishments29,129
- Annual payroll$1.51 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
DeKalb County
Building permits in DeKalb County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024257
- Declared construction value permitted$65.3 m
- Single family units authorized180
- Multifamily units authorized77
- Multifamily share of units30.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$254,211
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.5
Single-family homes are 70.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
DeKalb County
SBA loans in DeKalb County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded67
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$59.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$890,464
- Median 7(a) approval$313,500
- 10th percentile approval$40,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,932,560
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)927
- Jobs per approval13.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active28
- Distinct industries receiving approvals35
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer26.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms18
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter48
- Franchise loans11
- Franchise share of approvals16.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (13)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (19)
- 504 approvals recorded71
- 504 gross approval dollars$45.4 m
- Average 504 approval$639,169
- Median 504 approval$296,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval6.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.6
- Most active CDCWessex 504 Corporation (29)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$105.0 m
The average approval of $890,464 sits well above the median of $313,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 26.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
DeKalb County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in DeKalb County
Do SBA loans in DeKalb County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded17
- Paid in full16
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full16
- Status: Exempt from disclosure36
- Status: Cancelled13
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
- Status: Charged off1
Only 17 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
DeKalb County
SBA lending by place in DeKalb County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending9
- DeKalb, approvals30
- Sycamore, approvals20
- Sandwich, approvals4
- Waterman, approvals4
- Hinckley, approvals3
- Genoa, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| DeKalb | 30 | $22,607,400 |
| Sycamore | 20 | $29,265,200 |
| Sandwich | 4 | $3,495,500 |
| Waterman | 4 | $800,000 |
| Hinckley | 3 | $1,485,000 |
| Genoa | 2 | $795,000 |
| Kingston | 2 | $198,000 |
| Shabbona | 1 | $865,000 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $150,000 |
DeKalb accounts for 30 approvals against 20 in Sycamore. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
DeKalb County
How large is DeKalb County?
- Land area631 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties30th of 102
- Width, east to west18.2 mi
- Height, north to south36.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land160
- Establishments per square mile3.13
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
DeKalb County
Flood risk in DeKalb County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book13
- Of those, participating in the NFIP13
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in DeKalb County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places DeKalb County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a DeKalb County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a DeKalb County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024100,703
- Households39,550
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$70,724
- Median age32.7
Common questions
DeKalb County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in DeKalb County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 101,335 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 100,703, in 39,550 households, ranking 20th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is DeKalb County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.82 percent since the 2020 census base of 100,514, to 101,335 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,020 births against 824 deaths, with net migration of 470. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in DeKalb County?
$70,724. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $243,600, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $1,049 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in DeKalb County?
1,975 establishments, employing 29,129 people with an annual payroll of $1.51 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in DeKalb County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 5,317 jobs, 14.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 36,272 jobs at an average annual pay of $56,896, or $1,094 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in DeKalb County?
67 7(a) approvals totaling $59.7 m since FY2020, across 28 lenders, with a median approval of $313,500, plus 71 504 approvals worth $45.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in DeKalb County?
257 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $65.3 m. Multifamily was 30.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for DeKalb County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to DeKalb County come from?
The largest single origin is Kane County, with 661 households. Arriving households report an average income of $51,918 against $62,817 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for DeKalb County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for DeKalb County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
DeKalb County
Cities and places in DeKalb.
14 Census places lie wholly or partly in DeKalb County. All 14 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb | city | 40,443 | 30 | Wholly in this county |
| Sycamore | city | 18,559 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Sandwich | city | 7,219 | 4 | 77.5 percent here, 22.5 percent Kendall County |
| Genoa | city | 5,492 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Cortland | town | 4,564 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Hinckley | village | 2,331 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Maple Park | village | 1,573 | None recorded | 80.2 percent here, 19.8 percent Kane County |
| Somonauk | village | 1,569 | None recorded | 85.0 percent here, 15.0 percent LaSalle County |
| Kirkland | village | 1,525 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Waterman | village | 1,448 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Kingston | village | 1,352 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Malta | village | 1,274 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Shabbona | village | 572 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lee | village | 320 | None recorded | 47.2 percent here, 52.8 percent Lee County |
Nearby