The Town FilesDefiance, Ohio
City in Defiance County · population 17,066 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,900
- Household income
- $61,439
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 41.8
Defiance is a city of 17,066 people in Defiance County, Ohio. The median home is worth $139,900, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks hipper than 80% of Ohio towns, better for cycling than 78% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 74% of Ohio towns.
How Defiance ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Defiance is worth $139,900, below the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $61,439, which is more affordable than 74% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $853 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Defiance | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,900 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $853 | $914 |
| Median household income | $61,439 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Defiance
| People | Defiance | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 90.9% |
Weather in Defiance
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 17.8°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.2 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Defiance since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 10, 2002 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 4, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 3, 1974.
Severe weather in Defiance County since 1996
Defiance County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3250: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1556: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Defiance County
Defiance County had 15,518 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,758 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Defiance itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Defiance
8 public schools with 3,964 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defiance Elementary School | K-5 | 1,053 | 16.7 |
| Defiance High School | 9-12 | 713 | 16.2 |
| Defiance Middle School | 6-8 | 557 | 16.9 |
| Tinora Elementary School | K-4 | 356 | 18.7 |
| Ayersville Elementary School | K-6 | 344 | 15.0 |
| Ayersville High School | 7-12 | 338 | 16.9 |
| Tinora Middle School | 4-9 | 320 | 18.8 |
| Tinora High School | 9-12 | 283 | 23.6 |
Towns near Defiance
- Paulding, OH14.8 mi · 3,555 people · home $120,200
- Napoleon, OH14.9 mi · 8,862 people · home $146,600
- Bryan, OH16.1 mi · 8,729 people · home $144,400
- Archbold, OH16.6 mi · 4,516 people · home $176,400
- Hicksville, OH20.7 mi · 3,431 people · home $157,600
- Wauseon, OH22.2 mi · 7,568 people · home $152,600
- Montpelier, OH24.0 mi · 3,942 people · home $106,900
- Ottawa, OH24.9 mi · 4,456 people · home $190,700
Defiance questions
Is Defiance, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Defiance scores better for retirees than 39% of Ohio towns and quieter than 28%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Defiance?
The median owner-occupied home in Defiance is valued at $139,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,439, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $853 a month.
What is the weather like in Defiance?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 17.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 24.2 inches of snow.
Does Defiance get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Defiance since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 10, 2002. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)