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CITY

Defiance

Iowa · 242 residents (2025 est.) · 0.373 sq mi
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The short version

Defiance has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,542. Population has fallen 27% since 2000, a loss of 95 residents. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $101,600. Households here earn about 29% less than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
251
−27%since 2000
from 346 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
673 / sq mi
−27%since 2000
from 928 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.2
−2%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:242 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1792242703163611990201020202024Defiance
2024251
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,542
−20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,875 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,810
+243%since 2000
from $12,492 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.3%
+24.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.6%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.499
+33%since 2010
from 0.376 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance12.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services9.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration9.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Information8.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical7.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services5.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade2.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$101,600
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$770
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $364 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
89.9%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 86.4% in 2000
10.1% rent
Vacancy rate
3.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
41.7%
+36.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
+25%since 2000
from 1.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
36
RELATED:See current rent listings in Defiance on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96%(332)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(10)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score7.1%(25)
2024
White, non-Hispanic88%(221)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino10.8%(27)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.2%(3)
Diversity Score26.6%(67)
Diversity Score
27
+275%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.4%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 89.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 0.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.7 min
+65%since 2000
from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.7%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.7%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.0%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
10.7%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.7%
−8.4 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
71.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2011
from 69.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.0%
−9.7 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
22.7%
−34.8 ptssince 2009
from 57.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Female
46.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Foreign born
4.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.3%
−47.5 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2012
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.8%
−89.9 ptssince 2013
from 94.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.6%
+24.6 ptssince 2017
from 67.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.4%
−4.7 ptssince 2016
from 96.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.6%
+5.6 ptssince 2016
from 3.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Frequently asked

How many people live in Defiance, Iowa?

Defiance, Iowa has about 251 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Defiance, Iowa?

The typical household in Defiance, Iowa earns about $53,542 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Defiance, Iowa expensive?

In Defiance, Iowa, the median home is worth about $101,600, and the typical rent is about $770 a month.

How educated are people in Defiance, Iowa?

About 11.4% of adults age 25 and over in Defiance, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Defiance, Iowa?

About 11.6% of people in Defiance, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Defiance, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Defiance, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 86 residents, a change of about -26 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Defiance, Iowa: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy