How long is the commute from DeKalb, IL?

Name: Commute and cars in DeKalb, IL, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in DeKalb, IL take an average of 23.8 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

71.2% of workers drive alone to work.

1.1% take public transportation.

8.1% of workers walk to work.

6.3% work from home.

9.9% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 23.8 minutes (±2.5)
Public transportation: 1.1%
Work from home: 6.3%
Households without a car: 9.9%

How people in DeKalb get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	DeKalb	DeKalb County	Illinois	United States
Drove alone	71.2% (±3.9 points)	74.8%	65.9%	68.8%
Carpooled	12.2% (±3.2 points)	9.6%	7.8%	8.5%
Public transportation	1.1% (±0.6 points)	0.8%	5.8%	3.2%
Walked	8.1% (±2.2 points)	4.2%	2.8%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	1.1% (±0.5 points)	1.4%	1.9%	2.0%
Worked from home	6.3% (±1.5 points)	9.3%	15.9%	15.1%

In DeKalb, the average commute is lower than in DeKalb County (26.7 minutes).

It is also lower than in Illinois (27.8 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In DeKalb, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from DeKalb County (0.8%).

It is also lower than in Illinois (5.8%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).

In DeKalb County, DeKalb ranks 30 of 32 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 1697 of 2,646.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in DeKalb

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	DeKalb	DeKalb County	Illinois	United States
No vehicle	9.9% (±2.3 points)	6.4%	11.0%	8.4%
1 vehicle	44.0% (±3.1 points)	34.3%	35.7%	33.1%
2 vehicles	34.1% (±3.4 points)	39.3%	35.1%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	12.0% (±1.9 points)	20.0%	18.3%	21.9%

In DeKalb, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in DeKalb County (6.4%).

It is not measurably different from Illinois (11.0%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in DeKalb

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	DeKalb	DeKalb County	Illinois	United States
Workers working from home	6.3% (±1.5 points)	9.3% (±1.1 points)	15.9% (±0.1 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	94.7% (±1.8 points)	96.4% (±0.9 points)	95.2% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	90.8% (±2.5 points)	92.7% (±1.2 points)	90.8% (±0.1 points)	91.0%

In DeKalb, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from DeKalb County (92.7%).

It is not measurably different from Illinois (90.8%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near DeKalb

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with DeKalb
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
DeKalb	—	23.8 minutes (±2.5)	—
DeKalb Township	1.3 mi	23.5 minutes (±2.4)	Not measurably different
Cortland	3.1 mi	25.5 minutes (±4.5)	Not measurably different
Cortland Township	4.4 mi	26.3 minutes (±2.3)	Not measurably different
Afton Township	5.0 mi	36.0 minutes (±14.8)	Not measurably different
Sycamore	5.9 mi	26.3 minutes (±1.7)	Not measurably different
Malta	6.4 mi	25.6 minutes (±2.9)	Not measurably different
Mayfield Township	6.6 mi	26.4 minutes (±10.6)	Not measurably different
Malta Township	7.0 mi	27.8 minutes (±3.9)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across DeKalb County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
24	Mayfield Township	26.4 minutes (±10.6)
25 (tie)	Sycamore	26.3 minutes (±1.7)
25 (tie)	Cortland Township	26.3 minutes (±2.3)
27	Malta	25.6 minutes (±2.9)
28	Cortland	25.5 minutes (±4.5)
29	Victor Township	25.4 minutes (±6.3)
30	DeKalb	23.8 minutes (±2.5)
31	DeKalb Township	23.5 minutes (±2.4)
32	Pierce Township	21.1 minutes (±10.8)

Showing 9 of 32 places in DeKalb County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about DeKalb

How long is the average commute in DeKalb?

Workers who live in DeKalb, IL take an average of 23.8 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in DeKalb without a car?

9.9% of households in DeKalb have no vehicle, and 1.1% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in DeKalb?

6.3% (±1.5 points) of workers who live in DeKalb worked from home, and 90.8% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for DeKalb city, Illinois (place:19161, in state:17).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.