Census place 3921308

Defiance

A Census profile of the people, homes, and daily patterns that shape this place.

Official Census name: Defiance city

Relocation snapshot

What stands out in Defiance.

According to the 2025 estimate, Defiance has a population of 17,009 and 1,321 residents per square mile. Of the six relocation measures evaluated, the three largest relative differences from the median among 176 covered Ohio places are: population density is 1,321/sq mi, below the comparison median of 2,161/sq mi; median home value is $139,900, below the comparison median of $197,550; and median gross rent is $853, below the comparison median of $1,047. These unweighted medians compare covered Census places and are not statewide estimates.

population density
1,321/sq mi
Below the comparison median of 2,161/sq mi
median home value
$139,900
Below the comparison median of $197,550
median gross rent
$853
Below the comparison median of $1,047

National context

Follow the metrics.

Compare Defiance's values with other covered Census places. Rankings are descriptive, not recommendations.

At a glance

A city in numbers.

Population
17,009
2025 estimate
Annual change
-0.1%
Population estimate
Density
1,321/sq mi
12.9 sq mi land area
Median age
41.8 years
ACS 5-year estimate

Living here

The everyday equation.

Households, homes, education, and the time it takes to get around.

Median household income
$61,439
Median home value
$139,900
Median gross rent
$853
Bachelor’s degree or higher
21.1%
Typical commute
18.2 min
Drive-alone commute
83%
Public transit commute
0%
Walked to work
2.3%

Housing

Who rents, and what it takes.

Renter share and rent burden help describe the housing choices visible in this place.

Renter-occupied homes
30.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income
31.5%

Work

How the workday lands.

Employment status and working-from-home share add context to income and commuting patterns.

Employed residents 16+
58.4%
Unemployed residents 16+
3.4%
Working from home
5.9%

Community

The everyday infrastructure.

Access, mobility, housing growth, and household composition add another layer to a place's day-to-day picture.

Households with broadband
89.5%
Homes built 2020+
0.5%
Households without a vehicle
5.4%
Households with children
25.5%
Residents with a disability
18.2%
Residents without insurance
5%

Environmental context

A record of declared events.

FEMA declarations for Defiance County provide historical context, not a forecast or a property-level risk assessment.

Environmental declarations since 2000
3
Severe Storm declarations
2
Hurricane declarations
1

Climate normals

The long view of weather.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast. Temperature and precipitation describe the typical conditions recorded from 1991 through 2020.

Representative station: DEFIANCE AP (5 mi from place center)
Average high
59.5°F
Average low
40.5°F
Annual rainfall
33"
Annual snowfall
0"

Month by month

A year in Defiance.

Typical high and low °F
0°F20°F40°F60°F80°F100°F
JFMAMJJASOND
Typical precipitation inches

Data vintage

Population is from the 2025 Population Estimates Program. Household, housing, education, and commute data are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year release. Disaster declarations are from FEMA's OpenFEMA dataset and are refreshed with this edition.

Similar places

More places to consider.

Selected by the closest mix of population, density, median home value, and average annual high.

Newton, IA

Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
15,741
Median home
$153,700

Ottawa, IL

Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
18,684
Median home
$154,000

West Mifflin, PA

Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
18,707
Median home
$151,600

Keep exploring

Compare Defiance with Newton