The Best Home Security Systems in DeKalb County, IL
Are you looking for the best home security systems in DeKalb County, IL? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed DeKalb County, IL home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in DeKalb County every 5 hours 1 minute, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. DeKalb County experiences 17.75 property crimes per 1000 people and 4.970 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in DeKalb County, IL
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of DeKalb County. The combination of a high amount of renters (40%) and education level (35% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Upgrade Pick
Vivint
Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Do You Need a Home Security System in DeKalb County, IL?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in DeKalb County, IL. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular county rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about DeKalb County, IL and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in DeKalb County, IL
Our analysis gives DeKalb County a property crime grade of: C. DeKalb County is in the 58th percentile of safety, meaning 58% of cities in Illinois are safer and 42% are more dangerous. Please visit our DeKalb County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the western part of DeKalb County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 26. Compare this to the southern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 169.
B-
C+ |
|
C |
|
Other Crime Grade |
B+ |
A crime occurs every 2 hours 58 minutes (on average) in DeKalb County, IL.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is DeKalb County safe? Compared to all of Illinois, DeKalb County is rated as safe as the average Illinois county, which has a property crime rate of 23.11 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where DeKalb County, with its burglary rate of 2.870 per 1000, is as safe as the average Illinois county.
In addition, DeKalb County is similar to other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in DeKalb County, IL.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in DeKalb County, IL |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
14.58 |
1,431 |
27.5 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.2288 |
22 |
0.4 |
Burglary |
2.870 |
282 |
5.4 |
Arson |
0.0681 |
7 |
0.1 |
Weather and Climate in DeKalb County, IL
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in DeKalb County, IL
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in DeKalb County, IL is 43.13 degrees, reaching 83.12 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has held steady compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 82.76 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in DeKalb County was built in 1980, which is about average compared to the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Illinois build in 1973.
Between colder seasonal temperatures and average home ages in DeKalb County, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in DeKalb County, IL
DeKalb County, IL gets an average rainfall of 1.0" per year. This is similar to the average of 1.0" for Illinois.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in DeKalb County, IL
DeKalb County, IL reaches an average of 19.01 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 27.82 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in DeKalb County is 43 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Illinois home that's 50 years old and about the same amount of time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your DeKalb County home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in DeKalb County, IL
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your DeKalb County home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 40.05% (40,216) of people in DeKalb County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 59.95% or 60,204 of DeKalb County residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 84% of people who commute an average of 33 minutes to work in or around DeKalb County, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 4% of DeKalb County residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of DeKalb County tend to have a higher median household income than nearby counties, earning $70,018 annually. In addition, 34.6% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in DeKalb County is $196,936. Compared to the median home value in Illinois of $242,002, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near DeKalb County, IL
There are 38 police stations within the boundaries of DeKalb County, and 20 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the DeKalb County center, there are 519 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in DeKalb County may be much faster. Even when response times are great, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| City Of Dekalb 200 South 4th St Dekalb, IL 60115 (815) 748-2000 cityofdekalb.com |
DE Kalb Police Department 200 South 4th St Dekalb, IL 60115 (815) 748-8400 cityofdekalb.com |
Dekalb City Office 200 South 4th St Dekalb, IL 60115 (815) 748-2000 dekalbcity.com |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near DeKalb County, IL
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than DeKalb County, IL? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kane County, IL | A- | A | more safe |
| Ogle County, IL | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| DuPage County, IL | A | A | more safe |
| Lee County, IL | B+ | A- | more safe |
| Cook County, IL | D- | D- | less safe |
| Carroll County, IL | D- | D- | less safe |
| Clinton County, IA | C | C | about as safe |
| Berrien County, MI | B- | C+ | more safe |
| Cass County, MI | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Linn County, IA | B | A | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to DeKalb County, IL
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than DeKalb County, IL? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutter County, CA | A | B+ | more safe |
| Madison County, KY | D+ | C- | less safe |
| Adams County, PA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Limestone County, AL | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Sumter County, SC | C+ | C | about as safe |
| Lenawee County, MI | C | C+ | about as safe |
| Lauderdale County, AL | A- | A | more safe |
| LaSalle County, IL | C+ | B+ | more safe |
| Laramie County, WY | C- | C | less safe |
| Madison County, MS | A | A | more safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in DeKalb County, IL
Deciding whether you need a home security system in DeKalb County, IL can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the county to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of DeKalb County residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, Ring, and Vivint have emerged as the top choices for DeKalb County residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as DeKalb County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 5 hours 1 minute in DeKalb County.
- The county experiences 17.75 property crimes and 4.970 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- DeKalb County's property crime grade stands at an 'C', comparably as safe as other Illinois {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of DeKalb County. The combination of a high amount of renters (40%) and education level (35% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
- Vivint: Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 83.12 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 19.01 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.0" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 43 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 40.05% of DeKalb County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 84% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering DeKalb County's higher household median income of $70,018 and 34.6% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- DeKalb County hosts 38 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.