County population in 2014: 19,268 (22% urban, 78% rural); it was 17,423 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 2,942 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 2,369 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 5,235 Renter-occupied apartments: 2,109 (it was 1,749 in 2000)
% of renters here:
25%
State:
32%
Land area: 305 sq. mi.
Water area: 24.4 sq. mi.
Population density: 63 people per square mile (average).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in DeKalb County: 80.8 (low, U.S. average is 100)
Estimated median household income in 2015: $40,061 ($30,359 in 1999)
This county:
$40,061
Tennessee:
$47,275
Median contract rent in 2015 for apartments: $426 (lower quartile is $301, upper quartile is $589)
This county:
$426
State:
$614
Estimated median house or condo value in 2015: $129,086 (it was $83,200 in 2000)
DeKalb:
$129,086
Tennessee:
$150,600
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $79,298 - $188,860 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $953 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $315
Institutionalized population: 219
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 4
Rapes: 2
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 41
Burglaries: 129
Thefts: 247
Auto thefts: 43
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 3
Rapes: 3
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 61
Burglaries: 80
Thefts: 213
Auto thefts: 23
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2015: $634 (0.4%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2015: $458 (0.4%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 20.9%
(19.8% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 39.1% for Black residents, 35.0% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 100.0% for American Indian residents, 100.0% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 94.8% for other race residents, 9.0% for two or more races residents)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 19.8%
DeKalb County:
19.8%
Tennessee:
16.7%
(19.4% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 34.7% for Black residents, 32.4% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 96.2% for American Indian residents, 100.0% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 95.1% for other race residents, 8.1% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2015: 41 years old
(Males: 39 years old, Females: 43 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 44 years old, Black residents: 37 years old, American Indian residents: 23 years old, Asian residents: 45 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 20 years old, Other race residents: 11 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in DeKalb County is $383 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $460 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $664 a month.
Current college students: 389 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 64.6% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 11.3%
Number of foreign born residents: 470 (13% naturalized citizens)
DeKalb County:
2.7%
Whole state:
2.8%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 272
1990 to 1994: 80
1985 to 1989: 65
1980 to 1984: 12
1975 to 1979: 8
1970 to 1974: 9
1970 to 1974: 15
1965 to 1969: 9
Note: State values scaled to DeKalb County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 24.3 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 66.4%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 6,443
One, attached: 105
Two: 277
3 or 4: 114
5 to 9: 119
10 to 19: 35
20 or more: 31
Mobile homes: 1,275
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 10
Housing units in DeKalb County with a mortgage: 1,766 (114 second mortgage, 112 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 1,599
Here:
52.5% with mortgage
State:
66.0% with mortgage
Religion statistics for DeKalb County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
7,534
43
Mainline Protestant
1,320
21
Catholic
900
1
Other
1
1
Orthodox
-
-
None
8,968
-
DeKalb County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 7
DeKalb County:
3.80 / 10,000 pop.
State:
1.99 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 10
DeKalb County:
5.43 / 10,000 pop.
Tennessee:
5.16 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 11
This county:
5.97 / 10,000 pop.
State:
6.56 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
DeKalb County:
11.7%
Tennessee:
11.4%
Adult obesity rate:
DeKalb County:
29.4%
State:
30.2%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
13.9%
State:
13.5%
Agriculture in DeKalb County:
Average size of farms: 113 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $41,879 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $1375.14 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 79.91% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 14.78% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $28,448 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 22.92% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $29,459 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 94.36% Average age of principal farm operators: 55 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 25.22 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 1.64% Corn for grain: 907 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 2786 harvested acres Vegetables: 7 harvested acres Land in orchards: 6 acres
Earthquake activity:
DeKalb County-area historical earthquake activity is near Tennessee state average. It is 76% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW, Depth: 8.9 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 204.2 miles away from DeKalb County center On 4/29/2003 at 08:59:39, a magnitude 4.9 (4.4 MB, 4.6 MW, 4.9 LG, Depth: 12.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 103.8 miles away from the county center On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK) earthquake occurred 186.3 miles away from the county center On 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML) earthquake occurred 106.7 miles away from the county center On 6/18/2002 at 17:37:15, a magnitude 5.0 (4.3 MB, 4.6 MW, 5.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 174.8 miles away from DeKalb County center On 6/10/1987 at 23:48:54, a magnitude 5.1 (4.9 MB, 4.4 MS, 4.6 MS, 5.1 LG) earthquake occurred 225.8 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Tennessee Severe Winter Storm and Flooding, Incident Period: February 15, 2015 to February 23, 2015, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4211: April 02, 2015, FEMA Id: 4211, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Flood
Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, Incident Period: February 29, 2012 to March 02, 2012, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4060: March 16, 2012, FEMA Id: 4060, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood, Wind
Tennessee Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes, Incident Period: April 30, 2010 to May 18, 2010, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1909: May 04, 2010, FEMA Id: 1909, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood, Wind
Tennessee Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3217: September 05, 2005, FEMA Id: 3217, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, Incident Period: May 04, 2003 to May 30, 2003, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1464: May 08, 2003, FEMA Id: 1464, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Tennessee Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: January 23, 2002 to March 20, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1408: April 05, 2002, FEMA Id: 1408, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Tennessee Winter Storm, Incident Period: December 23, 1998 to December 29, 1998, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1260: January 15, 1999, FEMA Id: 1260, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
Tennessee Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: January 06, 1998 to February 12, 1998, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1197: January 13, 1998, FEMA Id: 1197, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Tennessee Severe Storms/Flooding, Incident Period: February 28, 1997 to March 24, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1167: March 07, 1997, FEMA Id: 1167, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Tennessee Ice Storm, Severe Winter Storm, Flash Flooding, Incident Period: February 09, 1994 to February 11, 1994, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1010: February 28, 1994, FEMA Id: 1010, Natural disaster type: Ice Storm, Winter Storm, Flash Flood
3 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in DeKalb County (13) is near the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 11 Emergencies Declared: 2
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 8, Storms: 7, Tornadoes: 4, Winter Storms: 4, Winds: 2, Flash Flood: 1, Hurricane: 1, Ice Storm: 1, Snowfall: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Office and administrative support occupations (6%)
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (6%)
Office and administrative support occupations (17%)
Production occupations (16%)
Health technologists and technicians (9%)
Management occupations (8%)
Sales and related occupations (8%)
Education, training, and library occupations (7%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (5%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (69%)
Korea (7%)
Laos (5%)
Germany (4%)
China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (4%)
Peru (3%)
Thailand (3%)
Most common first ancestries reported in DeKalb County (%):
United States or American (42%)
Irish (12%)
English (11%)
German (6%)
Scotch-Irish (3%)
Scottish (2%)
French (except Basque) (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 5,951 (76%)
Carpooled: 1,133 (15%)
Bus or trolley bus: 19 (0%)
Motorcycle: 10 (0%)
Walked: 281 (4%)
Other means: 128 (2%)
Worked at home: 276 (4%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in DeKalb County, Tennessee in 2000:
126 people in nursing homes
82 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
40 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
35 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
23 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
9 people in other group homes
People in group quarters in DeKalb County, Tennessee in 2010:
111 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
84 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
35 people in group homes intended for adults
23 people in college/university student housing
21 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers
16 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
8 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $38,256.
6.84% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($30,869 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.84%
Tennessee average:
6.50%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
5.02% relocated from other counties in Tennessee ($21,435 average AGI)
1.82% relocated from other states ($9,435 average AGI)
DeKalb County:
1.82%
Tennessee average:
3.16%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
7.09% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($29,011 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
7.09%
Tennessee average:
6.26%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
5.44% relocated to other counties in Tennessee ($22,503 average AGI)
1.66% relocated to other states ($6,508 average AGI)
DeKalb County:
1.66%
Tennessee average:
2.90%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.3 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 12.9
Births per 1000 population in DeKalb County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.0 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.5 Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 12.2
Deaths per 1000 population in DeKalb County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 9.2 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 6.3
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in DeKalb County
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 19.8% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 7.5%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in DeKalb County
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in DeKalb County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 3,425 (2,584 aged, 841 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 470 (11%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in DeKalb County, Tennessee in 1999 - 2014:
Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (363)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (264)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (198)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (132)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (131)
Unspecified dementia (97)
Pneumonia, unspecified (87)
Breast, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (52)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 15% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 11%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 5.49 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 9,515 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 280 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 53,550
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,211 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,216
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 19 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 49
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 16
Crimes per 100,000 population in 1996: 1
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 382.6. This is more than state average.
Mechanisms of suicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 247.1
Other - 135.5
Household type by relationship:
Households: 18,425
In family households: 15,694 (3,627 male householders, 1,513 female householders)
3,834 spouses, 4,832 children (4,354 natural, 142 adopted, 336 stepchildren), 615 grandchildren, 179 brothers or sisters, 173 parents, 293 other relatives, 512 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 2,731 (1,063 male householders (858 living alone)), 1,217 female householders (1,072 living alone)), 451 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 298 (219 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 2,413 2-persons, 1,137 3-persons, 948 4-persons, 377 5-persons, 162 6-persons, 103 7-or-more-persons.
2,700 married couples with children.
878 single-parent households (207 men, 671 women).
96.4% of residents of DeKalb County speak English at home.
2.9% of residents speak Spanish at home (32% speak English very well, 18% speak English well, 23% speak English not well, 26% don't speak English at all).
0.3% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (80% speak English very well, 20% speak English not well).
0.4% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (84% speak English very well, 16% speak English well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $118,464,000 ($6,504 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $5,246,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $45,646,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $29,535,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $5,629,000 Federal grants: $31,185,000 Federal procurement contracts: $4,016,000 ($3,296,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $2,452,000 ($65,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $329,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $3,031,000 Federal Government insurance: $42,510,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,155
Here:
63 per 1000 residents
State:
69 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,047
Here:
57 per 1000 residents
State:
50 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +226
Here:
+12 per 1000 residents
State:
+8 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +526
Here:
+29 per 1000 residents
State:
+18 per 1000 residents
Population growth in DeKalb County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 1.27 millions of gallons per day (6% from ground, 94% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.7
State:
6.0
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.5
State:
4.2
Year house built
2014 or later: 0
2010 to 2013: 222
2000 to 2009: 1,465
1990 to 1999: 1,787
1980 to 1989: 1,258
1970 to 1979: 1,888
1960 to 1969: 974
1950 to 1959: 869
1940 to 1949: 384
1939 or earlier: 627
Note: State values scaled to DeKalb population
Rooms in houses/apartments in DeKalb County, Tennessee
Note: State values scaled to DeKalb County population
no vehicle: 202
1 vehicle: 1,467
2 vehicles: 2,136
3 vehicles: 1,000
4 vehicles: 334
5+ vehicles: 96
no vehicle: 312
1 vehicle: 723
2 vehicles: 552
3 vehicles: 131
4 vehicles: 22
5+ vehicles: 9
59% of DeKalb County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 54% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 60% lived in Tennessee.
DeKalb County:
59.4%
State average:
54.7%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 13,163
Northeast: 331
Midwest: 1,589
South: 1,504
West: 292
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $64,000
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in DeKalb County
Click here to upload your DeKalb County photos (outside city limits)
41.0 years
38.0 years
(49.5%)
(50.5%)
, Beaufort County, North Carolina 
, Caldwell County, North Carolina 
, Fulton County, Arkansas 
