DeKalb County, Indiana: commercial real estate data.
DeKalb County, Indiana had an estimated 44,330 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,272, across 363 square miles. County output reached $3.45 bn in 2024, 1,034 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 36 7(a) approvals worth $21.2 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 2020-202443,807
- Households17,096
- Average household size2.56
- Median household income$74,331
- Median age38.4
- Median gross rent$861 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$194,100
- Home value to household income2.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher20.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over29,855
- Population under 1810,553
- Share under 1824.1 percent
- Population 65 and over7,630
- Share 65 and over17.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6425,624
- Civilian labor force22,882
- Unemployment rate4.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.8 percent
- Rank by population among Indiana counties35th of 92
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1122nd of 3,222
DeKalb County is the 35th largest of 92 Indiana counties by population. A median home costs 2.6 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.1 percent against 17.4 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, 202444,330
- Census 2020 base population43,272
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.44 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024153
- Births, 2024517
- Deaths, 2024432
- Natural change, 202485
- Net domestic migration, 202438
- Net international migration, 202428
- Total net migration, 202466
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024730
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1022nd of 3,144
The county has grown 2.44 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 arriving1,257
- People arriving, from those returns2,366
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,133
- Net household movement124
- Adjusted gross income arriving$68.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-697,000
- Average income of an arriving household$54,731
- Average income of a leaving household$61,336
- Largest single originAllen County (442 households)
- Largest single destinationAllen County (358 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County | 442 | 890 | $29.0 m |
| Noble County | 175 | 309 | $7.5 m |
| Steuben County | 166 | 298 | $7.6 m |
| Williams County | 30 | 54 | $1.4 m |
| Whitley County | 28 | 48 | $1.2 m |
| LaGrange County | 21 | 35 | $647,000 |
Households arriving report $6,605 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Allen 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$3.45 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.47 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-0.5 percent
- GDP change over five years38.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Indiana areas BEA publishes29th of 92
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes898th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$78,691
Output grew -0.5 percent in the latest year and 38.1 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 average22,201
- Establishments reporting1,084
- Average annual pay$62,916
- Average weekly wage$1,210
- Manufacturing, employment9,572
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$81,688
- Retail trade, employment1,568
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,229
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,527
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,016
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,519
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$54,649
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,502
- Construction, employment714
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 9,572 | 122 | $81,688 |
| Retail trade | 1,568 | 120 | $34,229 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,527 | 91 | $19,016 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,519 | 58 | $54,649 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,502 | 72 | $50,816 |
| Construction | 714 | 130 | $62,719 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 651 | 88 | $86,510 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 555 | 62 | $43,900 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 9,572 jobs, 43.1 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 industries1,034
- Employment at those establishments21,088
- Annual payroll$1.32 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.6
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, 2024116
- Declared construction value permitted$43.7 m
- Single family units authorized116
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$377,095
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.8
Single-family homes are 100.0 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 recorded36
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$21.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$588,497
- Median 7(a) approval$122,000
- 10th percentile approval$41,750
- 90th percentile approval$2,155,500
- Largest single approval$3,805,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)322
- Jobs per approval8.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active20
- Distinct industries receiving approvals20
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer16.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter26
- Franchise loans13
- Franchise share of approvals36.1 percent
- Most active lender1st Source Bank (9)
- 504 approvals recorded7
- 504 gross approval dollars$9.1 m
- Average 504 approval$1,299,714
- Median 504 approval$568,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval8.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved6.7
- Most active CDCCommunity Development Corporation of Fort Wayne (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$30.3 m
The average approval of $588,497 sits well above the median of $122,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 16.7 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 recorded10
- Paid in full10
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full10
- Status: Exempt from disclosure24
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 10 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 lending5
- Auburn, approvals30
- Harlan, approvals2
- St. Joe, approvals2
- Butler, approvals1
- Kendallville, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Auburn | 30 | $17,904,700 |
| Harlan | 2 | $3,027,000 |
| St. Joe | 2 | $114,200 |
| Butler | 1 | $90,000 |
| Kendallville | 1 | $50,000 |
Auburn accounts for 30 approvals against 2 in Harlan. 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 area363 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Indiana counties68th of 92
- Width, east to west20.3 mi
- Height, north to south18.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land121
- Establishments per square mile2.85
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 Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- 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. 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 2020-202443,807
- Households17,096
- Average household size2.56
- Median household income$74,331
- Median age38.4
Common questions
DeKalb County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in DeKalb County, Indiana?
The Census Bureau estimates 44,330 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 43,807, in 17,096 households, ranking 35th of 92 Indiana 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 2.44 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,272, to 44,330 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 517 births against 432 deaths, with net migration of 66. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in DeKalb County?
$74,331. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $194,100, which is 2.6 times income, and median gross rent is $861 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in DeKalb County?
1,034 establishments, employing 21,088 people with an annual payroll of $1.32 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?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 9,572 jobs, 43.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 22,201 jobs at an average annual pay of $62,916, or $1,210 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?
36 7(a) approvals totaling $21.2 m since FY2020, across 20 lenders, with a median approval of $122,000, plus 7 504 approvals worth $9.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in DeKalb County?
116 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $43.7 m. Multifamily was 0.0 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 Allen County, with 442 households. Arriving households report an average income of $54,731 against $61,336 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.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in DeKalb County. All 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn | city | 13,565 | 30 | Wholly in this county |
| Garrett | city | 6,642 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Butler | city | 2,660 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Waterloo | town | 2,073 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hamilton | town | 1,939 | None recorded | 11.2 percent here, 88.8 percent Steuben County |
| Ashley | town | 1,230 | None recorded | 77.3 percent here, 22.7 percent Steuben County |
| Altona | town | 415 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Joe | town | 411 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Spencerville | CDP | 244 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Corunna | town | 128 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 36 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in DeKalb County, the largest being Harlan (2), Kendallville (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby