County profile · Illinois
DeKalb County, IL market data
How DeKalb County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 101,835
- +1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 39,550
- Median household income
- $70,724
- +11.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $243,600
- Jobs located here
- 34,194
- Highest market score
- 78
- Convenience stores, #219 of 2,261 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in DeKalb County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of DeKalb County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
DeKalb County has an estimated 101,835 people and 39,550 households. Population estimates put the population change in DeKalb County from 2020 to 2025 at +1.5%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in DeKalb County is $70,724, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 11.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in DeKalb County runs highest on medical and dental services (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (71).
Of the business types scored in DeKalb County, convenience stores (78), grocery and convenience stores (75) and primary care and pediatric clinics (73) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For convenience stores, that ranks #219 of 2,261 scored counties.
DeKalb County is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (90% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (39% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in DeKalb County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares DeKalb County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convenience stores | 78 | #219 of 2,261 | 22 | 5.6 | $10.7M | 136 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 75 | #292 of 2,402 | 56 | 14.2 | $4.2M | 124 | 17 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 73 | #198 of 1,656 | 20 | 5.1 | $2.8M | 154 | 33 |
| Veterinarians | 72 | #230 of 1,485 | 9 | 2.3 | $3.7M | 134 | 8 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 69 | #407 of 2,087 | 39 | 9.9 | $2M | 155 | 12 |
| Grocery stores | 68 | #452 of 2,070 | 19 | 4.8 | $12.4M | 133 | 14 |
| Nail salons | 67 | #212 of 1,328 | 16 | 4.0 | $2.4M | 143 | 5 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 66 | #498 of 2,210 | 60 | 15.2 | $1.3M | 146 | 15 |
| Tire shops | 63 | #441 of 1,530 | 13 | 3.3 | $3.1M | 125 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 60 | #204 of 777 | 6 | 1.5 | $5.7M | 141 | 11 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 60 | #433 of 1,327 | 12 | 3.0 | $3.4M | 110 | 9 |
| Spas and skin care | 60 | #525 of 1,769 | 33 | 8.3 | $1.2M | 133 | 7 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 59 | #619 of 1,886 | 39 | 9.9 | $1.4M | 143 | 33 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 59 | #663 of 2,063 | 41 | 10.4 | $3.7M | 100 | 14 |
| Child care and preschools | 58 | #613 of 1,611 | 19 | 4.8 | $858K | 86 | 14 |
| Chiropractors | 55 | #595 of 1,490 | 23 | 5.8 | $2.4M | 100 | 13 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 54 | #580 of 1,302 | 16 | 4.0 | $3.4M | 110 | 10 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 54 | #1,006 of 2,405 | 220 | 55.6 | $687K | 104 | 61 |
| Gyms | 53 | #811 of 1,792 | 31 | 7.8 | $1.1M | 85 | 11 |
| Auto repair shops | 53 | #1,064 of 2,378 | 89 | 22.5 | $456K | 103 | 41 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 50 | #1,192 of 2,394 | 319 | 80.7 | $172K | 113 | 104 |
| Auto repair and car care | 50 | #1,241 of 2,401 | 159 | 40.2 | $255K | 95 | 56 |
| House cleaning | 49 | #434 of 847 | 7 | 1.8 | $6.8M | 107 | 20 |
| Barbershops | 49 | #726 of 1,356 | 20 | 5.1 | $1.9M | 102 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 49 | #739 of 1,451 | 15 | 3.8 | $2.7M | 107 | 10 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 49 | #1,106 of 2,176 | 78 | 19.7 | Index only | 128 | 19 |
| Hair salons | 49 | #1,259 of 2,339 | 107 | 27.1 | $358K | 83 | 15 |
| Roofing and gutters | 48 | #637 of 1,177 | 14 | 3.5 | $7.4M | 88 | 7 |
| Physical therapy | 48 | #779 of 1,422 | 28 | 7.1 | $2M | 82 | 15 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 48 | #1,011 of 1,889 | 43 | 10.9 | $3.5M | 85 | 18 |
| Gas stations | 48 | #1,263 of 2,358 | 50 | 12.6 | $2.1M | 86 | 42 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 48 | #1,286 of 2,405 | 431 | 109.0 | $351K | 95 | 159 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 48 | #1,292 of 2,385 | 177 | 44.8 | $217K | 102 | 30 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 47 | #767 of 1,334 | 24 | 6.1 | $1.4M | 71 | 7 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 47 | #1,220 of 2,088 | 61 | 15.4 | $565K | 85 | 18 |
| Pet businesses | 47 | #1,242 of 2,200 | 51 | 12.9 | $644K | 73 | 22 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 46 | #823 of 1,493 | 20 | 5.1 | $2.4M | 81 | 35 |
| Pet stores | 45 | #567 of 974 | 8 | 2.0 | $4.1M | 91 | 4 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 45 | #1,343 of 2,222 | 58 | 14.7 | $2.6M | 85 | 84 |
| Real estate | 45 | #1,349 of 2,229 | 107 | 27.1 | Index only | 118 | 34 |
| Pest control | 43 | #446 of 699 | 7 | 1.8 | $6.8M | 67 | 3 |
| Laundromats | 41 | #499 of 785 | 9 | 2.3 | $8.5M | 68 | 3 |
| Property management | 41 | #613 of 910 | 15 | 3.8 | Index only | 65 | 8 |
| Electricians | 41 | #790 of 1,160 | 11 | 2.8 | $9.5M | 79 | 29 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 40 | #1,258 of 1,771 | 34 | 8.6 | $1.4M | 84 | 58 |
| Insurance agencies | 39 | #1,499 of 2,272 | 47 | 11.9 | $1.3M | 105 | 34 |
| Pizza | 38 | #1,527 of 2,090 | 50 | 12.6 | $3M | 60 | 84 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 37 | #674 of 887 | 13 | 3.3 | Index only | 107 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 35 | #1,703 of 2,057 | 60 | 15.2 | $1.7M | 72 | 73 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 34 | #1,106 of 1,461 | 25 | 6.3 | $1.3M | 52 | 10 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 33 | #1,433 of 1,707 | 35 | 8.8 | $3M | 63 | 37 |
| Funeral homes | 26 | #1,288 of 1,472 | 16 | 4.0 | $291K | 43 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.0 | $19.2M | 123 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.0 | $10.1M | 74 | 4 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.5 | $27.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in DeKalb County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $40.6M | $1,026 | 107 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $102.8M | $2,600 | 100 |
| Food away from home | $151.2M | $3,824 | 94 |
| Groceries | $235.2M | $5,947 | 94 |
| Personal care products and services | $38.4M | $970 | 97 |
| Child care and other personal services | $16.3M | $412 | 71 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $34.5M | $871 | 89 |
| Medical and dental services | $55M | $1,391 | 108 |
| Pets | $32.9M | $831 | 91 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $76.9M | $1,945 | 95 |
| Vehicle insurance | $61.8M | $1,563 | 80 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $104.2M | $2,636 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $47.7M | $1,206 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $544.9M | $13,777 | 83 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in DeKalb County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 101,835+1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 39,550
- Median age
- 35.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 61%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 631 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 160
- Median household income
- $70,724+11.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $90,834
- Median home value
- $243,600
- Jobs located here
- 34,194
- Daytime population
- 89,501Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in DeKalb County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of DeKalb County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Kendall County, IL137,675 people
- Boone County, IL53,230 people
- Ogle County, IL51,495 people
- McHenry County, IL312,591 people
- Winnebago County, IL283,292 people
- DuPage County, IL930,024 people
- Lee County, IL33,869 people
Questions
How fast is DeKalb County, IL growing?
Population estimates put DeKalb County at 101,835 people in 2025, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 39,550 households. Median household income rose 11.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in DeKalb County, IL spend?
Households in DeKalb County spend about $544.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $235.2M on groceries and $151.2M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in DeKalb County spend the most on medical and dental services (an index of 108, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (71).
Which business types have the highest market scores in DeKalb County, IL?
The highest Groundwork market scores in DeKalb County are for convenience stores (78), grocery and convenience stores (75) and primary care and pediatric clinics (73). DeKalb County ranks #219 of 2,261 scored counties for convenience stores.
How does DeKalb County, IL compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in DeKalb County is $70,724 a year, 12% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $243,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, DeKalb County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (90% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (39% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 52 of the 56 business types have a score in DeKalb County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in DeKalb County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in DeKalb County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of DeKalb County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.