Defiance County, Ohio: commercial real estate data.
Defiance County, Ohio had an estimated 38,644 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,281, across 411 square miles. County output reached $2.16 bn in 2024, 813 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 67 7(a) approvals worth $28.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Defiance County
How many people live in Defiance County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202438,343
- Households15,327
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$73,064
- Median age41.1
- Median gross rent$846 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$163,200
- Home value to household income2.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over26,401
- Population under 188,626
- Share under 1822.5 percent
- Population 65 and over7,741
- Share 65 and over20.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6421,976
- Civilian labor force19,435
- Unemployment rate5.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over65.4 percent
- Rank by population among Ohio counties64th of 88
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1238th of 3,222
Defiance County is the 64th largest of 88 Ohio counties by population. A median home costs 2.2 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.5 percent against 20.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Defiance County
Is Defiance County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202438,644
- Census 2020 base population38,281
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.95 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024207
- Births, 2024411
- Deaths, 2024416
- Natural change, 2024-5
- Net domestic migration, 202411
- Net international migration, 2024204
- Total net migration, 2024215
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024119
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1497th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.95 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Defiance County
Where are people moving to Defiance County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving911
- People arriving, from those returns1,578
- Tax returns filed by households leaving870
- Net household movement41
- Adjusted gross income arriving$41.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-1.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$44,956
- Average income of a leaving household$48,638
- Largest single originWilliams County (152 households)
- Largest single destinationWilliams County (139 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams County | 152 | 273 | $6.4 m |
| Paulding County | 109 | 186 | $4.9 m |
| Henry County | 108 | 208 | $4.5 m |
| Lucas County | 50 | 80 | $2.2 m |
| Fulton County | 48 | 77 | $1.8 m |
| Allen County | 39 | 68 | $2.1 m |
| Putnam County | 25 | 47 | $1.4 m |
Households arriving report $3,682 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Williams County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Defiance County
What is the Defiance County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.16 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.15 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20240.7 percent
- GDP change over five years30.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Ohio areas BEA publishes63rd of 88
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1213th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$56,399
Output grew 0.7 percent in the latest year and 30.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Defiance County
Employment by industry in Defiance County
- Covered employment, annual average15,518
- Establishments reporting942
- Average annual pay$52,758
- Average weekly wage$1,015
- Manufacturing, employment3,069
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$79,500
- Retail trade, employment2,256
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,743
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,664
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,071
- Transportation and warehousing, employment975
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$61,600
- Other services, except public administration, employment614
- Finance and insurance, employment555
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 3,069 | 50 | $79,500 |
| Retail trade | 2,256 | 131 | $34,743 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,664 | 88 | $18,071 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 975 | 46 | $61,600 |
| Other services, except public administration | 614 | 81 | $24,956 |
| Finance and insurance | 555 | 62 | $64,446 |
| Construction | 493 | 68 | $55,715 |
| Wholesale trade | 483 | 54 | $66,785 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,069 jobs, 19.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Defiance County
How many businesses are in Defiance County?
- Establishments, all industries813
- Employment at those establishments13,708
- Annual payroll$664.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Defiance County
Building permits in Defiance County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202446
- Declared construction value permitted$13.3 m
- Single family units authorized37
- Multifamily units authorized9
- Multifamily share of units19.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$289,833
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.0
Single-family homes are 80.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Defiance County
SBA loans in Defiance County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded67
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$28.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$421,190
- Median 7(a) approval$60,000
- 10th percentile approval$11,200
- 90th percentile approval$1,310,000
- Largest single approval$3,667,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)772
- Jobs per approval11.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active14
- Distinct industries receiving approvals34
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer3.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter59
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (6)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (37)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.8 m
- Average 504 approval$583,667
- Median 504 approval$356,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval1.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved2.9
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$30.0 m
The average approval of $421,190 sits well above the median of $60,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 3.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Defiance County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Defiance County
Do SBA loans in Defiance County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded8
- Paid in full7
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Exempt from disclosure48
- Status: Cancelled10
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 8 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Defiance County
SBA lending by place in Defiance County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Defiance, approvals54
- Hicksville, approvals11
- Sherwood, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Defiance | 54 | $27,294,800 |
| Hicksville | 11 | $900,900 |
| Sherwood | 2 | $24,000 |
Defiance accounts for 54 approvals against 11 in Hicksville. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Defiance County
How large is Defiance County?
- Land area411 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Ohio counties62nd of 88
- Width, east to west29.9 mi
- Height, north to south18.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land93
- Establishments per square mile1.98
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Defiance County
Flood risk in Defiance County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Defiance County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 390143
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Defiance County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Defiance County (community 390143), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Defiance County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Defiance County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Defiance County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202438,343
- Households15,327
- Average household size2.50
- Median household income$73,064
- Median age41.1
Common questions
Defiance County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Defiance County, Ohio?
The Census Bureau estimates 38,644 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 38,343, in 15,327 households, ranking 64th of 88 Ohio counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Defiance County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.95 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,281, to 38,644 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 411 births against 416 deaths, with net migration of 215. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Defiance County?
$73,064. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $163,200, which is 2.2 times income, and median gross rent is $846 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Defiance County?
813 establishments, employing 13,708 people with an annual payroll of $664.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Defiance County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 3,069 jobs, 19.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 15,518 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,758, or $1,015 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Defiance County?
67 7(a) approvals totaling $28.2 m since FY2020, across 14 lenders, with a median approval of $60,000, plus 3 504 approvals worth $1.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Defiance County?
46 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $13.3 m. Multifamily was 19.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Defiance County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Defiance County come from?
The largest single origin is Williams County, with 152 households. Arriving households report an average income of $44,956 against $48,638 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Defiance County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Defiance County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Defiance County
Cities and places in Defiance.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Defiance County. All 5 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defiance | city | 17,276 | 54 | Wholly in this county |
| Hicksville | village | 3,174 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Sherwood | village | 762 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Ney | village | 363 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brunersburg | CDP | 323 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby