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CITY

Defiance

Ohio · 17,009 residents (2025 est.) · 12.786 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 $61,439. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $139,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% 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
17,276
+5%since 2000
from 16,465 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,351 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 1,288 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.8
+19%since 2000
from 35.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,009 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K16K17K17K17K1990201020202024Defiance
202417K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,439
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,670 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,146
+78%since 2000
from $19,790 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.3%
+21.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.7%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.437
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade20.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical8.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services7%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade5%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$139,900
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$853
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $478 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 70.4% in 2000
30.9% rent
Vacancy rate
9.2%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.0%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.0%
−14.1 ptssince 2009
from 44.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+20%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
43
RELATED:See current rent listings in Defiance on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.3%(13,557)
Black3.2%(532)
Hispanic / Latino12.8%(2,100)
Asian0.4%(60)
Other0%
Diversity Score35.8%(5,888)
2024
White, non-Hispanic76.8%(13,269)
Black2.7%(466)
Hispanic / Latino17.3%(2,987)
Asian0.2%(36)
Other3%(518)
Diversity Score47.3%(8,175)
Diversity Score
47
+32%since 2000
from 36 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 16.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.8%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 83.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.2 min
+46%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 84.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.9%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.4%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.5%
−6.6 ptssince 2011
from 12.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2011
from 60.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.2%
−31.6 ptssince 2009
from 59.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 15.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−83.0 ptssince 2013
from 88.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.5%
+13.0 ptssince 2017
from 76.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 94.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 5.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Defiance, Ohio?

Defiance, Ohio has about 17,276 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Defiance, Ohio?

The typical household in Defiance, Ohio earns about $61,439 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Defiance, Ohio expensive?

In Defiance, Ohio, the median home is worth about $139,900, and the typical rent is about $853 a month.

How educated are people in Defiance, Ohio?

About 21.1% of adults age 25 and over in Defiance, Ohio hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Defiance, Ohio?

About 14.7% of people in Defiance, Ohio live below the federal poverty line.

Has Defiance, Ohio grown since 1990?

Yes, Defiance, Ohio has grown since 1990. The population has added about 508 residents, a change of about 3 percent over that period.

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

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