Home Insurance in DeKalb County, Illinois
Homes in DeKalb County carry a median value of $243,600 - 7% lower than the Illinois median.
The typical home in DeKalb County was built around 1978. About 25% of homes were built before 1960, about 12 points below Illinois's 38%. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild.
In DeKalb County, the housing stock is 68% single-family homes, 21% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
67% of owner-occupied homes in DeKalb County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
The vacancy rate is 5%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 61% of occupied homes in DeKalb County are owner-occupied.
Most homes in DeKalb County - 72% - are primarily heated with natural gas. Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies.
The top hazards for DeKalb County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are tornado (Relatively Moderate), inland flooding (Relatively Moderate) and strong wind (Relatively Moderate).
DeKalb County had 166 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Illinois is $1,480 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $243,600 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1978 |
| Owner-occupied share | 61% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 67% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Tornado (Relatively Moderate), Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Strong Wind (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 166 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,480 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Cortland
- DeKalb
- Genoa
- Hinckley
- Kingston
- Kirkland
- Malta
- Maple Park
- Sandwich
- Shabbona
- Somonauk
- Sycamore
- Waterman
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)