Defiance, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 316, Defiance's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Defiance is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Bedford County. The total population is 316. It ranks as the 1565th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Defiance is 32.1 years. This is 22% lower than the state median of 40.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Defiance is $90,694. This is 16% higher than the state median of $77,971. It is also 12% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.6%. This is 69% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 19.3%. This is 266% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $87,400. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Defiance is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 75.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Defiance was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

6.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 81% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Defiance, Pennsylvania is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.