Defiance County, Ohio Demographics 2026
Defiance County, Ohio has a population of 38,258, the 65th most populous county in Ohio. The median household income is $73,615 and the median home value is $150,900. The poverty rate is 10.0%.
Defiance County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Defiance County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defiance | 16,830 | $63,118 | 14.7% | $134,600 |
| Hicksville | 3,228 | $64,473 | 3.2% | $142,500 |
| Sherwood | 770 | $75,147 | 5.7% | $128,500 |
| Brunersburg | 364 | $104,773 | 0.0% | $188,500 |
| Ney | 345 | $70,208 | 17.5% | $122,900 |
Explore Ohio Rankings
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. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.
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. It is also 6% lower than the national median of $78,538. 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%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Defiance County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Ohio and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Defiance County, Ohio?
Defiance County has a population of 38,258, making it the 65th most populous county in Ohio.
What is the median income in Defiance County?
The median household income in Defiance County is $73,615 with a poverty rate of 10.0%.
How many cities are in Defiance County, Ohio?
Defiance County contains 5 Census-designated places.