2025 Compare Cities Overview:
DeKalb, IL vs Decatur, IL

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Highlights
Are people in Decatur older or younger than people in DeKalb?
- The Median Age in Decatur is 14.8 years older than in DeKalb.

Are housing costs cheaper in Decatur or DeKalb?
- Decatur housing costs are 59.5% less expensive than DeKalb housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Decatur or DeKalb?
- The average commute for residents of Decatur is 4.6 minutes shorter than it is for residents of DeKalb.

Things to do in DeKalb?
DeKalb, Illinois sits within DeKalb County providing visitors great culture attractions from Egyptian Theater to Northern Illinois University Convocation Center as well as plenty of restaurants like Kishwaukee Tap.

Things to do in Decatur?
Decatur, Illinois is a vibrant city located in the Midwestern United States. Home to attractions such as Scovill Zoo and Nelson Park, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities and nature when visiting Decatur. There are also plenty of museums, galleries, and performance venues such as Macon County History Museum and Richland Community College Performance Center. For entertainment, visitors can explore downtown shopping districts and restaurants along with movie theaters and live music clubs. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an exciting night out, Decatur has something for everyone!

 DeKalb, ILDecatur, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock71,309329,725,481
 Median Income$45,591  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.938.4
 Avg. Home Price$206,000  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock10.3%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time21.06  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Dekalb    2 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

While I love the cheaper rents then in the closer suburbs (to Chicago), the lack of high paying jobs for anyone without high degrees (Masters or higher) is  More

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As a 37 year resident of DeKalb - an escapee of the Chicago suburbs, I am pleased to write a bit about my hometown. Originally a college town in a farming community,  More

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Reviews for Decatur    14 Reviews

I was sent here by the company I worked for in the '90's and was not initially impressed with midwest living. However, over the years I got used to living in the "Pride  More

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I grew up in Decatur and I still have family there, but it depresses me to see what it has become. It has a high unemployment rate, many business have closed or are run  More

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Over 14 years ago

If you enjoy drinking & driving, Decatur's fifteen drive-thru liquor windows, three times the # of drive-thru's than the ten largest cities in Illinois, COMBINED, will  More

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