Population
38,292
2025
+0.1% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Defiance County, OH: population growth, jobs and income
Defiance County lost 41 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.1%).
Defiance County had an estimated 38,292 residents in 2025, up 0.1% (24 more people) since 2020. That is slower than Ohio as a whole (+0.9%), and the 39th fastest growth of 88 counties in Ohio.
Data as of 2025 · updated
14-day full refund · Stripe, Apple Pay or Google Pay · Instant PDF + CSV · Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
How we compute every number · Refund terms
In the Defiance County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Defiance County, ranked against Ohio and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$846/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes7.5%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months552025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−19
2025
−0.5 per 1,000 residents
+72 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.5%
2025
+0.6 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
46
2025
+0.0% since 2021
1.2 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$73,064
2020–24
+17.6% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
13,708
2023
+2.1% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 19 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 13,708 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.1% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.5% in 2025, 0.6 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 46 new homes in 2025, or 1.2 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $73,064 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +17.6% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,844th.
Part of the Defiance, OH micro area.
Get Defiance County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Defiance County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Defiance County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 38,292 | −41 |
| 2024 | 38,333 | +32 |
| 2023 | 38,301 | +162 |
| 2022 | 38,139 | −38 |
| 2021 | 38,177 | −91 |
| 2020 | 38,268 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Defiance County
Defiance County grew by 24 people since 2020; the largest part came from international migration (+291).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −20 | −333 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | −3 | +291 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −19 | +72 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +1 | −6 | |
| Total change | −41 | +24 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Ohio | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 39th of 88 | 1,844th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 68th of 88 | 1,995th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 40th of 88 | 1,577th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 31st of 88 | 959th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 31st of 88 | 2,132nd of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 50th of 88 | 1,961st of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Defiance County, OH as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Allen County and DeKalb County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the Defiance County report (free, PDF) · See a full 5-page sample (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Defiance County's population change (+0.1%) was ahead of 4 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 2 (DeKalb County, IN and Allen County, IN).
3 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Defiance County's $73,064 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defiance County, OH This county | 38,292 | +0.1% | −0.5 | 1.2 | $73,064 |
| Paulding County, OH | 18,727 | −0.4% | −3.9 | 1.5 | $67,731 |
| Williams County, OH | 36,549 | −1.4% | −1.3 | 1.2 | $61,048 |
| Henry County, OH | 27,598 | −0.2% | 3.7 | 0.7 | $80,099 |
| Putnam County, OH | 34,380 | −0.0% | 2.9 | 2.6 | $84,928 |
| DeKalb County, IN | 44,535 | +2.9% | 1.8 | 2.6 | $74,331 |
| Allen County, IN | 402,329 | +4.2% | 2.0 | 3.4 | $70,737 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Defiance County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 0.1% between 2020 and 2025, about 24 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Ohio as a whole changed +0.9% over the same years. That ranks 39th of 88 counties in Ohio for population growth.
How many people moved to Defiance County?
On net, none in 2025: about 19 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Defiance County?
It averaged 4.5% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Defiance County?
About 38,292 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Defiance County?
Private employers there had 13,708 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.1% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Ohio
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Ohio county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Defiance County data alerts
Email me when Defiance County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.