County · Missouri
DeKalb County, Missouri
DeKalb County, Missouri. DeKalb County had 9,795 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 11.2% since 2020, while Missouri grew 1.9%. It holds 17 places (8 cities, villages and boroughs and 9 towns and townships) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 29063.
DeKalb County is one of the 4 counties of the St. Joseph, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
9,795
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 11,029 · ACS 2020-2024: 10,876
Median household income
$69,826
±$11,753 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$169,200
±$13,541 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$817
±$82 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
How many people live in DeKalb County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 11,029 residents in DeKalb County. The Census Bureau estimates 9,795 for July 1, 2025, down 11.2% since 2020, while Missouri grew 1.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 10,876 over 421 square miles of land.
The yearly series starts from the Census Bureau's July 2020 estimate, 11,605, which differs from its April 2020 base of 11,029 (in 2020 the estimates dipped in many college and military towns), so the first step is large; the change since 2020 above is measured from the April base.
| Measure | DeKalb County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 10,876 | 6,191,814 | −1,650 |
| Households | 3,732±767 | 2,508,227 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.40±0.33 | 2.40 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,270±755 | 2,825,287 | no clear change |
DeKalb County's population since 2000
From 11,597 in 2000 to 9,795 in 2025: down 15.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in DeKalb County?
DeKalb County holds 17 places: 8 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 9 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Grand River Township, DeKalb County with 3,258 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Grand River Township, DeKalb County | 4,371 | $77,589 |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron | 8,513 | $61,791 |
| Washington Township, DeKalb County | 1,798 | $77,432 |
| Camden Township | 1,647 | $65,417 |
| Maysville | 1,095 | $44,271 |
| Polk Township, DeKalb County | 737 | $65,455 |
| Stewartsville | 733 | $80,972 |
| Colfax Township, DeKalb County | 695 | $79,583 |
| Adams Township, DeKalb CountyGEOID 2906300208 | 649 | $66,058 |
| Sherman Township, DeKalb CountyGEOID 2906367430 | 491 | $69,688 |
| Union Star | 380 | $61,299 |
| Grant Township, DeKalb CountyGEOID 2906328468 | 356 | not published |
| Osborn | 374 | $52,054 |
| Dallas Township, DeKalb CountyGEOID 2906318046 | 285 | $43,207 |
| ClarksdaleGEOID 2914158 | 245 | $69,896 |
| WeatherbyGEOID 2978028 | 80 | $28,750 |
| AmityGEOID 2901054 | 26 | $85,357 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in DeKalb County?
The median resident of DeKalb County is 42.2 years old; 19.8% are under 18 and 19.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.5%. 1.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | DeKalb County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2±0.7 | 39.0 | +1.8 |
| Under 18 years | 19.8%±0.1 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.5%±0.6 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.4% | 5.2% | −0.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.0%±1.0 pts | 76.3% | +3.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.5%±1.3 pts | 10.9% | −2.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1%±1.5 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.8%±0.9 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.9%±0.8 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.9%±1.6 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 15.9%±2.5 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.7%±2.3 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.4%±2.0 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.4%±3.0 pts | 32.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.9%±1.6 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.1%±1.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in DeKalb County earn?
Half of DeKalb County's 3,732 households earn less than $69,826 a year (±$11,753), against $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $68,818 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | DeKalb County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,826±$11,753 | $70,702 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $84,578±$11,657 | $96,247 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,990±$2,063 | $39,695 | +$4,222 |
| People below the poverty line | 8.7%±2.4 pts | 12.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.8%±4.7 pts | 15.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.8%±3.4 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.7%±4.6 pts | 89.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in DeKalb County?
Owners occupy 71.1% of DeKalb County's occupied homes and renters 28.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,200 by its owner (±$13,541). The median renter pays $817 a month including utilities, and 18.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | DeKalb County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $169,200±$13,541 | $230,300 | +$21,394 |
| Median gross rent | $817±$82 | $1,033 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 18.0%±6.3 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,389±$112 | $1,524 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.1%±8.0 pts | 68.1% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,270±755 | 2,825,287 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5%±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.7%±6.8 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.2%±5.9 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.8%±3.2 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.3%±2.7 pts | 13.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is DeKalb County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across DeKalb County in 2025 (1 single-family), 0.1 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in DeKalb County get to work?
76.6% of DeKalb County's workers drive alone and 9.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.3%.
| Measure | DeKalb County | Missouri | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 47.6%±2.2 pts | 63.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.3%±1.5 pts | 4.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.6%±3.5 pts | 74.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.3%±2.3 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.7%±1.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.9%±2.8 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.1 min±4.2 | 23.5 min | +6.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are DeKalb County's census tracts?
DeKalb County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $59,432 (Tract 801.01) to $76,042 (Tract 801.02).
| Tract 801.0129063080101 | 2,106±197 | $59,432 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 801.0229063080102 | 4,681±192 | $76,042 |
| Tract 80229063080200 | 4,089±228 | $74,659 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does DeKalb County compare with Missouri's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 80th of 115 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 115th of 115 |
| Residents per square mile | 67th of 115 |
| Median household income | 22nd of 115 |
| Median home value | 53rd of 115 |
| Median gross rent | 33rd of 115 |
| Poverty rate | 103rd of 115 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 78th of 115 |
| Median age | 42nd of 115 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for DeKalb County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.