What are the schools like in Defiance, OH?

Defiance is served primarily by Defiance City. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Defiance?

The median household income in Defiance, OH is $58,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Defiance, OH?

Defiance has an average high temperature of 32.3°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 24.2 inches.

Defiance, OH Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Defiance, OH affordable or expensive?

Defiance's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Defiance is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $135,800 and the median rent is $809 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Defiance, OH?

Defiance has a violent crime rate of 217.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1179.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Defiance, OH a Good Place to Live?

Defiance is a small city of 16,852 in Ohio, with a median household income of $58,750 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Defiance stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Defiance is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Defiance city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.2

Defiance's overall cost of living index is 90.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Defiance costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Defiance, OH	National Avg
Median Home Value	$135,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$809	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Defiance's violent crime rate is 217.1 per 100,000 residents — 43% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

217.1 /100k

Property Crime

1179.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Defiance is served primarily by Defiance City. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Defiance, OH	National Avg
School District	Defiance City	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Defiance sees average highs of 32.3°F in January and 84.6°F in July, with 37.7 inches of annual precipitation and 24.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Defiance, OH
Average High — January	32.3°F
Average High — July	84.6°F
Annual Precipitation	37.7"
Annual Snowfall	24.2"

Demographics

Metric	Defiance, OH	National Avg
Population	16,852	—
Median Age	40.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	20.3%	22.2%
65 and over	20.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brunersburg, OH 2 mi Florida, OH 9 mi Sherwood, OH 9 mi Ney, OH 11 mi New Bavaria, OH 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Defiance

Defiance, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code:

43512

Defiance vs Other Cities

Defiance, OH vs Brunersburg, OH Defiance, OH vs Florida, OH Defiance, OH vs Sherwood, OH Defiance, OH vs Ney, OH Defiance, OH vs New Bavaria, OH

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Defiance, OH affordable or expensive?

Defiance's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Defiance roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $135,800 and median rent is $809/month.

What is the crime rate in Defiance, OH?

Defiance's violent crime rate is 217.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1179.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Defiance?

Public schools in Defiance are operated by Defiance City. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Defiance, OH a good place to live?

Defiance, OH has a population of 16,852, a median household income of $58,750, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Defiance?

Defiance averages 32.3°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.7 inches with about 24.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Defiance?

Defiance, OH is covered by 1 ZIP code: 43512.

What is the population of Defiance?

The population of Defiance, Ohio is 16,852 with a median age of 40.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Defiance?

Key numbers for living in Defiance: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $135,800, median household income $58,750, crime index 57 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Defiance side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.