How old are the homes in DeKalb, IL?

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

58.5% (±5.1 points) of the homes in DeKalb, IL were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

14.2% were built before 1940.

3.3% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 58.5% (±5.1 points)
Built before 1940: 14.2%
Built 2010 or later: 3.3%

When the homes in DeKalb were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	DeKalb	DeKalb County	Illinois	United States
2020 or later	0.1% (±0.2 points)	0.5%	0.7%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	3.2% (±1.3 points)	4.0%	5.0%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	19.8% (±3.3 points)	21.4%	11.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	10.4% (±2.5 points)	13.8%	10.5%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	7.9% (±1.9 points)	7.6%	9.2%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	20.1% (±3.1 points)	16.1%	14.2%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	15.1% (±2.5 points)	11.3%	11.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	7.0% (±1.6 points)	6.6%	11.9%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	2.1% (±1.0 points)	2.7%	5.6%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	14.2% (±2.5 points)	16.0%	20.2%	11.7%

In DeKalb, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from DeKalb County (52.7%).

It is not measurably different from Illinois (63.4%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In DeKalb County, DeKalb ranks 17 of 32 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 1914 of 2,751.

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

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (38.4%) and the share built before 1980 (58.5%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near DeKalb

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with DeKalb
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
DeKalb	—	58.5% (±5.1 points)	—
DeKalb Township	1.3 mi	58.8% (±4.9 points)	Not measurably different
Cortland	3.1 mi	24.7% (±8.4 points)	Lower
Cortland Township	4.4 mi	34.8% (±5.7 points)	Lower
Afton Township	5.0 mi	36.8% (±22.0 points)	Not measurably different
Sycamore	5.9 mi	39.6% (±6.1 points)	Lower
Malta	6.4 mi	60.2% (±12.7 points)	Not measurably different
Mayfield Township	6.6 mi	47.1% (±21.7 points)	Not measurably different
Malta Township	7.0 mi	67.9% (±12.7 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Cortland, IL (24.7%), Cortland Township, IL (34.8%), Sycamore, IL (39.6%).

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

Homes built before 1980 across DeKalb County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
11 (tie)	Somonauk	61.0% (±11.6 points)
11 (tie)	Waterman	61.0% (±11.4 points)
13	Somonauk Township	60.6% (±12.0 points)
14	Malta	60.2% (±12.7 points)
15	South Grove Township	59.8% (±27.3 points)
16	DeKalb Township	58.8% (±4.9 points)
17	DeKalb	58.5% (±5.1 points)
18	Pierce Township	55.7% (±38.8 points)
19	Sandwich Township	54.0% (±7.9 points)
20	Sandwich	52.9% (±8.2 points)
21	Genoa Township	52.7% (±13.3 points)
22 (tie)	Genoa	50.5% (±13.6 points)
22 (tie)	Franklin Township	50.5% (±11.5 points)

Showing 13 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 old are most homes in DeKalb?

58.5% of homes in DeKalb, IL were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in DeKalb need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 38.4% and 58.5% of homes in DeKalb were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in DeKalb?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — DeKalb city, Illinois

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.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

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.