Defiance County, Ohio Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Defiance County is located in Ohio with a total population of 38,258. It is the 65th most populous county out of 88 in Ohio.

Age Demographics

The median age in Defiance County is 40.8 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Defiance County is $73,615. This is 6% higher than the state median of $69,680. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 6% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $150,900. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $199,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Defiance County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Defiance County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.7%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 12.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (10.7% vs 4.6%). The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.4%.

Education

20.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.3%.