Very AffordableVery SafeKemper County School District
Median Income
$34,712
household / year
Median Home Value
$84,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$478
gross / month
Cost of Living
84
national avg = 100
Is De Kalb, MS a Good Place to Live?
De Kalb is a small town of 757 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $34,712
and a 5.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
De Kalb stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether De Kalb is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All De Kalb city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 84.0
De Kalb's overall cost of living index is 84.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in De Kalb costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
De Kalb, MS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$84,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$478
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$34,712
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
De Kalb's violent crime rate is 154.0 per 100,000 residents
— 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
154.0 /100k
Property Crime
236.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
De Kalb is served primarily by Kemper County School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
De Kalb, MS
National Avg
School District
Kemper County School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
De Kalb sees average highs of 58.4°F in January
and 93.2°F in July,
with 60.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.7 inches of snow per year.
De Kalb's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes De Kalb roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $84,100 and median rent is $478/month.
De Kalb's violent crime rate is 154.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 236.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in De Kalb are operated by Kemper County School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.1:1. 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
De Kalb, MS has a population of 757, a median household income of $34,712, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
De Kalb averages 58.4°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.3 inches
with about 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
De Kalb, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39328.
The population of De Kalb, Mississippi is 757 with a median age of 51.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in De Kalb: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $84,100, median household income $34,712, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare De Kalb side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.