DeKalb County, Indiana
Formed in 1837 and named for Baron DeKalb, a Revolutionary War hero
County Seat: Auburn
Largest City: Auburn (2024 population: 13,989)
Population per Square Mile: 122.19
Square Miles: 362.80
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 43,265 | 36 | 0.7% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2024) | 44,330 | 35 | 0.6% | 6,924,275 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 45,558 | 33 | 0.6% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | 2.5% | 20 | | 2.0% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2023-2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 38 | 55 | | 4,268 |
| Net International Migration | 28 | 51 | | 30,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | 85 | 18 | 0.9% | 9,159 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 2,713 | 34 | 6.1% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 7,733 | 35 | 17.4% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 3,465 | 39 | 7.8% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 11,247 | 32 | 25.4% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 11,096 | 35 | 25.0% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 8,076 | 38 | 18.2% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 39.5 | | | Median Age = 38.3 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 175 | 43 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 281 | 41 | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 362 | 51 | 0.8% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 34 | 37 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| White | 42,805 | 35 | 96.6% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 673 | 40 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 42,827 | 32 | 96.6% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 1,503 | 42 | 3.4% | 9.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2023 (Includes detail not shown below) | 17,008 | 36 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 3,593 | 31 | 21.1% | 18.1% |
| Married Without Children | 5,701 | 34 | 33.5% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 1,622 | 28 | 9.5% | 8.9% |
| Living Alone | 4,366 | 40 | 25.7% | 29.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Housing | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (estimate) | 18,667 | 37 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2023 (includes vacant units) | 18,280 | 37 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 13,994 | 31 | 76.6% | 63.9% |
| Median Value (2023) | $177,900 | 43 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 3,014 | 47 | 16.5% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2023) | $678 | 34 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 7,239 | 35 | 0.6% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 6,406 | 38 | 0.6% | 1,033,552 |
| Adults (25+ in 2023 ACS) | 29,547 | 36 | 0.6% | 4,559,304 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 92.3% | 18 | | 90.2% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 20.1% | 40 | | 28.8% |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Income and Poverty | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2023 | $56,870 | 29 | 92.9% | 61,243 |
| Median Household Income in 2023 | 68,933 | 41 | 99.2% | $69,458 |
| Poverty Rate in 2023 | 11.3% | 44 | 92.6% | 12.2% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 12.3% | 65 | 81.5% | 15.1% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2024 | 15 | 54 | 0.3% | 4,813 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2024 | 2,437 | 44 | 0.4% | 608,295 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2024/2025 | 3,128 | 34 | 0.6% | 488,145 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education
| Health and Vital Statistics | Number | Rank of | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 568 | 32 | 0.7% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 23 | 39 | 0.6% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 425 | 41 | 0.6% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 22,412 | 32 | 0.6% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 21,551 | 32 | 0.7% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 861 | 34 | 0.6% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 3.8 | 59 | 90.5% | 4.2 |
| May 2025 Unemployment Rate | 3.1 | 56 | 91.2% | 3.4 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 28,489 | 100.0% | $1,997,021 | 100.0% | $70,098 |
| Wage and Salary | 22,986 | 80.7% | $1,479,500 | 74.1% | $64,365 |
| Farm Proprietors | 722 | 2.5% | $22,941 | 1.1% | $31,774 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 4,781 | 16.8% | $186,555 | 9.3% | $39,020 |
| Farm | 810 | 2.8% | $27,842 | 1.4% | $34,373 |
| Nonfarm | 27,679 | 97.2% | $1,969,179 | 98.6% | $71,143 |
| Private | 25,535 | 89.6% | $1,836,763 | 92.0% | $71,931 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 1,465 | 5.1% | $35,849 | 1.8% | $24,470 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 326 | 1.1% | $5,484 | 0.3% | $16,822 |
| Construction | 1,246 | 4.4% | $77,114 | 3.9% | $61,889 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | 1,568 | 5.5% | $93,813 | 4.7% | $59,830 |
| Information | 128 | 0.4% | $4,734 | 0.2% | $36,984 |
| Manufacturing | 9,954 | 34.9% | $1,060,814 | 53.1% | $106,572 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | 922 | 3.2% | $76,110 | 3.8% | $82,549 |
| Retail Trade | 2,042 | 7.2% | $71,140 | 3.6% | $34,838 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 2,188 | 7.7% | $131,642 | 6.6% | $60,165 |
| Wholesale Trade | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Other Private (not above) | 4,611* | 16.2%* | $183,054* | 9.2%* | $39,699* |
| Government | 2,144 | 7.5% | $132,416 | 6.6% | $61,761 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
| Residential Building Permits, 2024 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 116 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $43,743 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 116 | 100.0% | 75.4% | $43,743 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 1.9% | 0 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | $0 | $45,624 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | 0.0% | 21.9% | $0 | $1,035,231 |
Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Cities and Towns in DeKalb County
| Name | Population
in 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Altona | 219 | 0.5% |
| Ashley | 679 | 1.5%* |
| Auburn | 13,989 | 31.6% |
| Butler | 2,669 | 6.0% |
| Corunna | 239 | 0.5% |
| Garrett | 6,663 | 15.0% |
| Hamilton | 238 | 0.5%* |
| St. Joe | 417 | 0.9% |
| Waterloo | 2,157 | 4.9% |
| * This place crosses county lines, so only population in this county is shown. |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers