Rents are 3% above what Dekalb's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,320 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Dekalb is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2022.
Rent in Dekalb changed +7.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($46,481) is $1,162 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,000); a 2-bedroom is $1,310.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Dekalb. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Dekalb, IL is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 33.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Dekalb, IL has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Dekalb, IL has climbed from $1,041 to $1,320, a 26.8% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $45,591 to $46,481 across the same window, up 2.0% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 41,083 residents to roughly 40,443. Renters now make up 57.9% of households, compared with 60.1% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Dekalb, IL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Dekalb on your salary?
At $1,320/mo, how Dekalb rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Dekalb rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Dekalb. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Dekalb
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Dekalb is $1,320/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $900/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,310/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,000/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,780/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($46,481/yr), Dekalb ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Dekalb?
Is rent going up or down in Dekalb?
How does Dekalb rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
At $1,320/mo, rent takes ~34% of Dekalb's median household income ($46,481/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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