County · Ohio

Defiance County, Ohio

Defiance County, Ohio. Defiance County had 38,292 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, about level with 2020, slower than Ohio (+0.9%). It holds 17 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs, 12 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 9 census tracts. GEOID 39039.

Defiance County is the county of the Defiance, OH micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

38,292

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 38,286 · ACS 2020-2024: 38,343

Median household income

$73,064

±$4,002 (90% margin)
Ohio: $71,389

Median home value

$163,200

±$5,953 (90% margin)
Ohio: $214,800

Median gross rent

$846

±$56 (90% margin)
Ohio: $1,034

How many people live in Defiance County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 38,286 residents in Defiance County. The Census Bureau estimates 38,292 for July 1, 2025, about level with 2020, slower than Ohio (+0.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 38,343 over 411 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −91 (38,177)
2021→2022 −38 (38,139)
2022→2023 +162 (38,301)
2023→2024 +32 (38,333)
2024→2025 −41 (38,292)

Defiance County in Ohio. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Defiance County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	38,343	11,810,293	+183
Households	15,327±236	4,863,191	no clear change
Average household size	2.46±0.04	2.37	no clear change
Housing units	16,565±63	5,292,391	−252

Defiance County's population since 2000

From 39,500 in 2000 to 38,292 in 2025: down 3.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 39,500
2005 (estimate) 39,049
2010 Census 39,037
2015 (estimate) 38,349
2020 Census 38,286
2025 (estimate) 38,292

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Defiance County?

Defiance County holds 17 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 12 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Defiance with 17,009 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Defiance County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Defiance	city	17,066	17,276±664	$61,439	$139,900	14.7%	100%
Defiance Township	township	13,216	13,281±50	$66,082	$136,900	16.1%	100%
Noble Township, Defiance County	township	5,909	5,979±29	$66,563	$169,200	10.6%	100%
Hicksville Township	township	4,872	4,910±29	$64,685	$162,100	3.0%	100%
Hicksville	village	3,431	3,174±493	$63,088	$157,600	4.3%	100%
Richland Township, Defiance County	township	3,063	2,986±31	$89,362	$215,200	3.3%	100%
Highland Township, Defiance County	township	2,284	1,744±389	$81,711	$164,100	5.2%	100%
Delaware Township, Defiance County	township	2,030	2,008±474	$91,250	$184,300	5.1%	100%
Tiffin Township, Defiance County	township	1,586	2,233±586	$76,786	$151,400	15.6%	100%
Washington Township, Defiance County	township	1,528	1,578±298	$90,000	$184,200	6.2%	100%
Milford Township, Defiance CountyGEOID 3903950190	township	1,120	1,671±799	$105,795	$263,500	14.5%	100%
Mark TownshipGEOID 3903947852	township	902	766±311	$91,938	$148,900	3.1%	100%
Farmer TownshipGEOID 3903926614	township	892	547±232	$83,906	$283,900	18.3%	100%
Adams Township, Defiance CountyGEOID 3903900268	township	884	640±222	$84,290	$196,900	0.3%	100%
Sherwood, Defiance CountyGEOID 3972256	village	802	762±264	$84,167	$137,500	10.7%	100%
BrunersburgGEOID 3909652	CDP	314	323±167	$110,893	$165,100	0.0%	100%
Ney	village	303	363±102	$74,821	$141,700	6.4%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Defiance County?

The median resident of Defiance County is 41.1 years old; 22.5% are under 18 and 20.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 11.1%. 0.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Defiance County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	41.1±0.7	39.7	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.5%±0.1 pts	22.0%	–
65 years and over	20.2%±0.3 pts	18.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	11.1%	4.8%	+1.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	84.7%±0.3 pts	75.8%	−1.7 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.6%±0.5 pts	12.0%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	2.5%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.1%±0.5 pts	4.3%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	0.9%±0.5 pts	5.2%	−1.3 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	5.2%±1.6 pts	8.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	5.9%±0.9 pts	6.6%	–
With a disability	14.5%±1.3 pts	14.4%	–
No health insurance coverage	8.4%±2.8 pts	6.4%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.8%±1.1 pts	91.8%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	19.0%±1.7 pts	31.5%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.5%±1.2 pts	12.2%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.8%±0.7 pts	1.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Defiance County earn?

Half of Defiance County's 15,327 households earn less than $73,064 a year (±$4,002), against $71,389 in Ohio. In 2015-2019 it was $73,757 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.5% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Defiance County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$73,064±$4,002	$71,389	no clear change
Mean household income	$88,073±$5,632	$96,990	–
Per capita income	$35,589±$2,142	$40,552	no clear change
People below the poverty line	10.5%±2.0 pts	13.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	11.4%±3.8 pts	17.8%	−5.7 pts
Households receiving SNAP	9.3%±1.5 pts	12.5%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.0%±1.8 pts	90.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Defiance County?

Owners occupy 79.3% of Defiance County's occupied homes and renters 20.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $163,200 by its owner (±$5,953). The median renter pays $846 a month including utilities, and 26.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Defiance County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$163,200±$5,953	$214,800	+$15,640
Median gross rent	$846±$56	$1,034	−$73
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	26.0%±6.9 pts	37.3%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,216±$46	$1,517	–
Owner-occupied homes	79.3%±2.0 pts	67.2%	+3.0 pts
Housing units	16,565±63	5,292,391	−252
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.4%±0.9 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	9.8%±4.1 pts	4.4%	–
Single-family detached homes	80.6%±2.1 pts	68.8%	–
Mobile homes	4.6%±1.1 pts	3.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.6%±0.3 pts	1.1%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	25.9%±2.6 pts	19.0%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Defiance County building?

Builders took permits for 46 new housing units across Defiance County in 2025 (46 single-family), 1.2 per 1,000 residents.

2019 43 units
2020 52 units
2021 46 units
2022 36 units
2023 25 units
2024 46 units
2025 46 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Defiance County get to work?

83.7% of Defiance County's workers drive alone and 6.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Defiance County	Ohio	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	63.3%±1.6 pts	63.1%	–
Unemployment rate	5.2%±1.1 pts	4.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	83.7%±2.1 pts	75.1%	–
Carpooled	7.7%±1.7 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.2 pts	1.0%	–
Walked	1.4%±0.6 pts	2.0%	–
Worked from home	6.0%±1.2 pts	13.0%	+3.0 pts
Mean travel time to work	19.8 min±1.0	23.4 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Defiance County's census tracts?

Defiance County is divided into 9 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $54,044 (Tract 9585) to $94,653 (Tract 9584).

Census tracts of Defiance County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 958139039958100	Defiance (8%)	4,250	4,170±586	$83,580	$161,300	$1,208	8.4%
Tract 958239039958200	Ney (6%)	4,543	5,232±812	$83,804	$213,200	$784	11.0%
Tract 958339039958300	Hicksville (66%)	4,281	4,081±408	$64,865	$162,100	$778	3.5%
Tract 958439039958400	Sherwood (14%)	3,869	3,797±494	$94,653	$167,900	$933	4.9%
Tract 958539039958500	Defiance (88%)	4,318	4,029±315	$54,044	$163,500	$910	11.8%
Tract 958639039958600	Defiance (85%)	3,630	4,298±445	$65,282	$119,500	$840	16.7%
Tract 958739039958700	Defiance (96%)	4,637	4,588±484	$73,634	$150,800	$826	9.1%
Tract 958839039958800	Defiance (90%)	3,534	3,166±463	$67,417	$117,600	$860	27.4%
Tract 958939039958900	Defiance (16%)	5,224	4,982±496	$75,361	$179,400	$762	5.6%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Defiance County compare with Ohio's other counties?

Defiance County's rank among Ohio's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	64th of 88
Growth 2020-2025	39th of 88
Residents per square mile	59th of 88
Median household income	31st of 88
Median home value	63rd of 88
Median gross rent	52nd of 88
Poverty rate	63rd of 88
Bachelor's degree or higher	52nd of 88
Median age	48th of 88

Every county in Ohio

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Defiance County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.