DeKalb County, Indiana Income Statistics
DeKalb County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
DeKalb County Around averageWealthier than 76% of counties in Indiana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | DeKalb County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $74,608 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,475 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.4% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.4% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in DeKalb County is about 4% higher than in Indiana. Income has been growing faster in DeKalb County (5.0%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 7% of adults in DeKalb County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in DeKalb County, Indiana grew by 63.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $74,608 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in DeKalb County
| Metric | DeKalb County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.498 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $64,225 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,513 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 27.6% | 21.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In DeKalb County, it is 0.498, lower than Indiana's 0.534, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 38% more than women's income in DeKalb County, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 38% wage gap accumulates to roughly $619,920 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in DeKalb County, Indiana has widened from about 26% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,349 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in DeKalb County widened by 1.5 points while Indiana's narrowed by 6.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | DeKalb County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.0% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,034 people are unemployed in DeKalb County, Indiana.
The average commute time in DeKalb County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in DeKalb County, Indiana has fallen from 10.3% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.2% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.5% in 2019.
DeKalb County, IN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
DeKalb County, IN is typical in size for this group, 43,807 residents against a local median of 40,805, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes DeKalb County, IN an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 7% above the local median at 5.0%/yr against 4.7%/yr. DeKalb County, IN has the 3rd highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County, IN | 43,807 | $74,608 #3/6 | 5.0%/yr #3/6 | 4.5% #4/6 | 0.498 #2/6 |
| Steuben County, IN | 34,726 | $74,906 | 5.1%/yr | 7.2% | 0.507 |
| Allen County, IN | 392,386 | $70,795 | 4.6%/yr | 4.7% | 0.521 |
| Noble County, IN | 47,495 | $71,042 | 4.7%/yr | 3.2% | 0.508 |
| Williams County, OH | 36,719 | $61,606 | 4.1%/yr | 4.0% | 0.489 |
| LaGrange County, IN | 40,805 | $83,276 | 5.4%/yr | 4.2% | 0.557 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, DeKalb County, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Indiana, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in DeKalb County, Indiana.
How Rich Is DeKalb County, Indiana?
DeKalb County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $74,608, about 4% higher than the Indiana average of $71,967.
How fast is household income rising in DeKalb County, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in DeKalb County, Indiana rose 63%, from $45,757 to $74,608. Over the same years, income here outpaced Indiana as a whole: +63% against +52%.
What was the median household income in DeKalb County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in DeKalb County, Indiana was $70,365, up 3% from $68,311 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in DeKalb County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in DeKalb County, Indiana was $58,770. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $74,608.
What is the Gini coefficient in DeKalb County, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in DeKalb County is 0.498. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in DeKalb County, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in DeKalb County, Indiana has widened from about 26% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,349 since 2009.
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