In Defiance, a typical home is worth $139,900 and typical rent is $853 a month. Compared with all of Defiance County, typical household income is 16% lower, the typical home value is 14% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 10 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $145,324 to $184,452.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Defiance is in Defiance County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Defiance County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Defiance has the 13th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 253 cities in Ohio with more than 5,000 people (32%).
2
The typical household income in Defiance is $61,439,16% less than in Defiance County as a whole ($73,064).
3
69% of households in Defiance own their home, against 79% in Defiance County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Defiance
What homes there are in Defiance, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Defiance
Defiance County
Ohio
United States
Kind of home: Defiance and its comparisons
Measure
Defiance
Defiance County
Ohio
United States
Detached house
72%
81%
69%
61%
Attached house
4%
3%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
9%
6%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
11%
6%
15%
19%
Mobile home
3%
5%
3%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Defiance (72%), but less so than in Defiance County (81%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Defiance
Defiance County
Ohio
United States
Year built: Defiance and its comparisons
Measure
Defiance
Defiance County
Ohio
United States
Before 1960
45%
41%
38%
26%
1960–1979
27%
28%
26%
24%
1980–1999
16%
18%
20%
25%
2000–2009
9%
9%
10%
14%
2010 or later
4%
4%
7%
11%
In Defiance, half of the homes were built before 1965; in Defiance County, before 1968.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K29%
$100K–$200K41%
$200K–$300K20%
$300K–$500K9%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Defiance and its comparisons
Measure
Defiance
Under $100K
29%
$100K–$200K
41%
$200K–$300K
20%
$300K–$500K
9%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Defiance sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99970%
$1,000–$1,49922%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Defiance and its comparisons
Measure
Defiance
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
70%
$1,000–$1,499
22%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,121 a month
Defiance County: $1,216 a month
Without a mortgage
$491 a month
Defiance County: $504 a month
Owners with a mortgage
59%
Defiance County: 56%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Defiance is $1,121 a month, less than in Defiance County ($1,216); without one, $491.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Defiance+24%
Defiance County+36%
Ohio+47%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Defiance+18%
Defiance County+13%
Ohio+28%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Defiance+24%
Defiance County+22%
Ohio+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Defiance and its comparisons
Measure
Defiance
Defiance County
Ohio
United States
Typical home value
+24%
+36%
+47%
+53%
Typical rent
+18%
+13%
+28%
+33%
Typical household income
+24%
+22%
+26%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Defiance rose 24%; in Defiance County, it rose 36%.
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Defiance rose 18%, more than in Defiance County (13%).
To compare: typical income in Defiance rose 24%; the home, +24%; the rent, +18%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Defiance and its comparisons
Measure
Defiance
Defiance County
Ohio
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
9.8%
4.4%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.25
2.46
2.37
2.53
Drive alone
83%
84%
75%
69%
Carpool
8%
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
6%
6%
13%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Households in Defiance are smaller: 2.25 people on average; in Defiance County, 2.46.
To get to work, 83% of workers in Defiance drive alone; in Defiance County, 84%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Defiance?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Defiance, worth $139,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 23% of the typical household income in Defiance, which is $61,439 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Defiance County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Defiance. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $4,897 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,176
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$137,366
Total interest
$197,637
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,363 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,434 a month
Your payment · 23%
Tight
$1,434 to $1,843 a month
Hard
more than $1,843 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Defiance ($61,439 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$931
Property tax
$125
Home insurance
$58
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$62
You need at least $4,897 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,176; principal and interest $931.
The city and its county
Defiance and Defiance County
Defiance is in Defiance County, Ohio. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Defiance
Map of Defiance County, Ohio, with Defiance marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Defiance
Defiance County
Other cities with a page
Defiance's own numbers
Typical home value
$139,900
Typical monthly rent
$853
Typical yearly household income
$61,439
Households that own their home
69%
Effective property tax rate
1.07%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Defiance County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,017
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+51%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.4%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Defiance County.
A typical home in Defiance is worth $139,900: 14% below the county and 35% below Ohio. With the typical household income in Defiance ($61,439 a year), a typical home costs 2.3 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Defiance2.3 years
County2.2 years
Ohio3.0 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Defiance County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Defiance County rose 78% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Defiance County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Defiance County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +1.3% +1.3% 2016
2017: +1.4% +1.4% 2017
2018: +6.1% +6.1% 2018
2019: +2.6% +2.6% 2019
2020: +5.5% +5.5% 2020
2021: +9.4% +9.4% 2021
2022: +12.7% +12.7% 2022
2023: +9.3% +9.3% 2023
2024: +8.5% +8.5% 2024
2025: +2.9% +2.9% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Defiance County, Ohio and the United States
Period
County
Ohio
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.9%
+4.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+51%
+53%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+78%
+93%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Defiance next to Defiance County, Ohio and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Defiance$139,900
County$163,200
Ohio$214,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Defiance$853
County$846
Ohio$1,034
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Defiance$61,439
County$73,064
Ohio$71,389
United States$80,734
See the full table
Defiance next to Defiance County and Ohio
Measure
Defiance
Defiance County
Ohio
U.S.
Typical home value
$139,900 ▼14% below the county
$163,200
$214,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$853
$846
$1,034
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$61,439 ▼16% below the county
$73,064
$71,389
$80,734
Households that own their home
69% ▼10 points below the county
79%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,495 ▼15% below the county
$1,750
$2,822
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.07%
1.07%
1.31%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
32% ▲1 points above the county
31%
46%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Defiance County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Defiance
For a typical $139,900 home in Defiance, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Defiance's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,175a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,897
Cash to close
$9,094
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $62
Conventional, 5% down$1,150a month
Down payment
$6,995
Cash to close
$11,192
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $66
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$941a month
Down payment
$27,980
Cash to close
$32,177
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,071a month
Down payment
$20,985
Cash to close
$25,182
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Defiance
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,175
$4,897
$137,366
7.18%
FHA MIP · $62
$9,094
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,150
$6,995
$132,905
7.18%
PMI · $66
$11,192
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$941
$27,980
$111,920
7.18%
None
$32,177
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,071
$20,985
$118,915
8.18%
None
$25,182
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Defiance is $853 a month: about the same as the county. In Defiance, 32% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Defiance County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,017 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.56 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Defiance County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$804
$15.46
$32,160
1 bedroom
$851
$16.37
$34,040
2 bedrooms
$1,017
$19.56
$40,680
3 bedrooms
$1,215
$23.37
$48,600
4 bedrooms
$1,511
$29.06
$60,440
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Defiance
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Defiance is in ZIP code 43512.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,040: $23 more than the fair market rent for Defiance County ($1,017).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Defiance, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
43512
$820
$870
$1,040
$1,250
$1,560
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
43512 $1,040$1,250
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Defiance when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Defiance County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Defiance or Defiance County. The ones below are statewide in Ohio: they work in Defiance the same as in the rest of the state.
Ohio state agency help of 2.5% or 5% of the price for the down payment, closing costs or other costs before closing, forgiven after seven years; if you sell sooner, you repay all of it.Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
Ohio state agency certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return, up to $2,000 a year: 40% with an OHFA mortgage (MTC Plus) or 15% to 20% with another mortgage (MTC Basic).Offered by Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Defiance or Defiance County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Defiance and all of Defiance County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Defiance?
The typical home value in Defiance is $139,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Defiance County it is $163,200.
How much does it cost to rent in Defiance?
Typical rent in Defiance is $853 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Defiance County is $1,017.
What is the FHA loan limit in Defiance?
Defiance uses the FHA limit for all of Defiance County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Defiance?
The typical homeowner in Defiance pays $1,495 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.07% of the home’s value; in Defiance County, the rate is 1.07%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Defiance?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Defiance County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
