Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in DeKalb, Illinois
A $203,000 home here costs
$2,032per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $87,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,107. The real number is $925 higher every month, 84% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare DeKalb County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
DeKalb against DeKalb County and Illinois
| Measure | DeKalb | DeKalb County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,900 | $231,900 |
| Median property tax | $5,696 | $5,889 |
| Effective tax rate | 2.807% | 2.539% |
| Median gross rent | $1,030 | $1,041 |
| Population | 40,464 | 100,512 |
The weather behind that power bill
DeKalb sits in DeKalb County, which averages a high of 83.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 13.1°F in its coldest, with 37.25" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 790 cooling and 6,745 heating degree days, which is what sets the $134 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for DeKalb County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in DeKalb County
Full DeKalb County cost breakdown · Every county in Illinois
Talk to someone who works this market
These are DeKalb averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works DeKalb every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in DeKalb I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in DeKalb?
A $203,000 home in DeKalb, Illinois costs approximately $2,032 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,107 principal and interest, $475 property tax, $80 homeowners insurance, $202 utilities and $169 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in DeKalb?
DeKalb has an effective property tax rate of 2.807%, based on a median home value of $202,900 and median real estate taxes of $5,696. That is higher than the DeKalb County average of 2.539%.
What is the average home price in DeKalb?
The median owner-occupied home value in DeKalb, Illinois is $202,900, against $231,900 across DeKalb County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in DeKalb?
Median gross rent in DeKalb is $1,030 a month, against $2,032 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in DeKalb?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in DeKalb, Illinois at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $87,000 a year. That covers the full $2,032 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for DeKalb, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Illinois.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.