Riverside Chapel · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Defiance is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns
Defiance trails Ohio on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Defiance. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Defiance
Defiance is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Defiance is healthier than 34%. Against the 9,289 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 52%. Health Grade ↓
Defiance has a five-star hospital
Promedica Defiance Regional Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Ohio figure falls outside Defiance’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Defiance’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Defiance is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns, #526 of 993 in Ohio. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 52% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 23%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Defiance’s median household income is $61,439; among the 9,289 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Defiance
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Defiance, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Defiance; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Defiance adults…
On every condition, Defiance is about the same as Ohio. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Ohio
Share of adults, with the Ohio figure marked.
3.9 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Defiance adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Ohio.
How Defiance adults are doing
About the same as Ohio on each measure.
1 in 3 Defiance adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.6% of Defiance adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.7% across Ohio.
Defiance and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defiance | C | 35.9% | 14% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Defiance adults live with a disability (Ohio 29.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Defiance
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Defiance is better than Ohio on 0 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Ohio figure falls inside Defiance’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Defiance | OH | U.S. | vs OH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.7%18.2–23.4 | 19.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.1–16.7 | 13.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.6%15.6–19.6 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.9%28.1–43.9 | 37.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.2–15.9 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.7%33.5–41.9 | 37.2% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.8%32.5–41.1 | 36.7% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.1%27.6–34.4 | 29.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.5–12.1 | 11.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.5–10.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7–8.7 | 7.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.6%7.6–9.6 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 3.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.3%13.4–19.6 | 15.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%13.8–18.5 | 15.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.3%24.8–34.2 | 26.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13–19 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%32.4–45.7 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%8.8–11.9 | 8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%76–82.7 | 79.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.8%55–62.6 | 62.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.6–87.1 | 86.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%77.2–82.1 | 79.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.2%62.3–72 | 65.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.3%66.4–81.4 | 76% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%21.5–29 | 25.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.3%29–39.7 | 35% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.8%18.3–25.5 | 21.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.8%12.5–17.3 | 14.1% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.7%10–13.6 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.1%6.9–9.3 | 8.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7–9 | 7.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.6%9.8–13.6 | 11.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32%27.8–36.3 | 29.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15%13.1–17.1 | 13.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.7%13.1–16.4 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.9–8.7 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.6–4.4 | 3.8% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Ohio figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Defiance
Is Defiance a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Defiance is healthier than 34% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #526 of 993 in Ohio. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 52%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Defiance?
CDC estimates 35.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.1% and 43.9%, against 37.1% across Ohio and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Defiance?
Mercy Health - Defiance Hospital in Defiance, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Defiance’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Defiance have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–11.9%), against 8% across Ohio.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Defiance more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Defiance.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Ohio figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.