City profile · Arizona · Census ACS 2023

Fort Defiance, AZ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fort Defiance - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,614
Residents
$56,250
Median income
$37,800
Median home
$1,175
Median rent (state)

Fort Defiance - the verdict

Fort Defiance ranks in the 29th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

29th
percentile, household income
0th
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fort Defiance, AZ

Fort Defiance is a small town in Arizona, home to 3,614 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Fort Defiance brings in $56,250 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.7%. Fort Defiance's housing stock carries a median value of $37,800, and the median resident age is 32.5 years. About 17.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 47.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 5 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Arizona tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,175 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Arizona run around $215, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 78.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

3,614 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arizona

Median Household Income

$56,250 /yr

Poverty 8.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.7 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arizona average

How does Fort Defiance compare to other US cities?

Here's how Fort Defiance stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 0% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Fort Defiance's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Arizona, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

29thIncome percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fort Defiance's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$37,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 100% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fort Defiance $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fort Defiance, AZ Fort Defiance, AZ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fort Defiance, AZ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fort Defiance, AZ median $56,250/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fort Defiance, AZ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fort Defiance, AZ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,614
Median Income
$56,250
Median Home Value
$37,800
Median Age
32.5
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Labor force participation
47.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.2%

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.8%
Carpool
4.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.1%
Work from Home
3.1%

Based on 1,343 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arizona - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$131
avg/month
Natural Gas
$34
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arizona state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arizona state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fort Defiance sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.7
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,175/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
78.8 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arizona

Carefree
3,672 people
Ajo
3,783 people
St. Johns
3,409 people
Avenue B and C
3,831 people
Clifton
3,845 people
Parker
3,379 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Defiance's 3,614 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lordship, CT
3,613 people
Franklinton, LA
3,615 people
Buies Creek, NC
3,613 people
East Basin, UT
3,613 people
Tuckerton, NJ
3,616 people
Vine Hill, CA
3,617 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fort Defiance's $56,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

St. Florian, AL
$56,250 median income
Koliganek, AK
$56,250 median income
Newhalen, AK
$56,250 median income
St. Michael, AK
$56,250 median income
Taylor, AR
$56,250 median income
Camp Pendleton Mainside, CA
$56,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fort Defiance, AZ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fort Defiance, AZ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 86.7% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.4% White 3.0% Black or African American 1.4% Asian 0.5% American Indian 86.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 7.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fort Defiance compares to nearby Arizona cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fort Defiance (this city) 3,614 $56,250
Carefree 3,672 $141,331
Ajo 3,783 $56,364
St. Johns 3,409 $128,920
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AZ NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fort Defiance, AZ?

What is the population of Fort Defiance, AZ? +

Fort Defiance, AZ counts 3,614 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fort Defiance, AZ? +

The median household income in Fort Defiance is $56,250 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fort Defiance? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fort Defiance; the closest available measure is the Arizona state average, a cost of living index of 100.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arizona vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Fort Defiance, AZ? +

A typical home in Fort Defiance is worth $37,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.