How many renters in DeKalb, IL pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

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

66.5% (±6.8 points) of renting households in DeKalb, IL spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

55.4% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 40.7% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 66.5% (±6.8 points)
Paying 35% or more: 55.4% (±5.9 points)
Median share of income: 40.7% (±6.0 points)

Rent as a share of income in DeKalb

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	DeKalb	DeKalb County	Illinois	United States
Less than 15%	9.3% (±2.9 points)	11.1%	14.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	8.6% (±2.9 points)	10.5%	13.4%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	8.2% (±2.8 points)	10.4%	13.1%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	7.4% (±2.7 points)	10.7%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	11.1% (±3.4 points)	10.9%	8.9%	9.2%
35% or more	55.4% (±5.9 points)	46.3%	39.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

DeKalb against DeKalb County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	DeKalb	DeKalb County	Illinois	United States
Paying 30% or more	66.5% (±6.8 points)	57.2% (±5.2 points)	47.9% (±0.4 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	55.4% (±5.9 points)	46.3% (±4.4 points)	39.0% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	40.7% (±6.0 points)	33.3% (±1.8 points)	29.1% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$27,979 (±$7,023)	$35,877 (±$3,042)	$50,420 (±$471)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,029 (±$41)	$1,049 (±$33)	$1,274 (±$5)	$1,413

In DeKalb, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in DeKalb County (57.2%).

It is also higher than in Illinois (47.9%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In DeKalb County, DeKalb ranks 2 of 30 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 294 of 2,503.

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near DeKalb

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with DeKalb
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
DeKalb	—	66.5% (±6.8 points)	—
DeKalb Township	1.3 mi	65.8% (±6.5 points)	Not measurably different
Cortland	3.1 mi	78.1% (±35.0 points)	Not measurably different
Cortland Township	4.4 mi	64.6% (±19.5 points)	Not measurably different
Afton Township	5.0 mi	0.0% (±83.7 points)	Not measurably different
Sycamore	5.9 mi	32.5% (±9.0 points)	Lower
Malta	6.4 mi	35.8% (±19.4 points)	Lower
Mayfield Township	6.6 mi	27.6% (±39.8 points)	Not measurably different
Malta Township	7.0 mi	34.6% (±16.9 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Sycamore, IL (32.5%), Malta, IL (35.8%), Malta Township, IL (34.6%).

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income across DeKalb County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Cortland	78.1% (±35.0 points)
2	DeKalb	66.5% (±6.8 points)
3	DeKalb Township	65.8% (±6.5 points)
4	Cortland Township	64.6% (±19.5 points)
5	Shabbona	59.3% (±22.5 points)
6	Squaw Grove Township	59.2% (±26.3 points)
7	Hinckley	58.4% (±27.2 points)
8	Lee	52.6% (±84.0 points)

Showing 8 of 30 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

Are renters in DeKalb rent-burdened?

66.5% of renting households in DeKalb pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in DeKalb spend on rent?

The median renting household in DeKalb, IL spends 40.7% (±6.0 points) of its household income on gross rent.

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) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) 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_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

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.