Defiance is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States, along the West Branch of the West Nishnabotna River. The population was 245 at the time of the 2020 census.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code51527

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Living in Defiance

Housing in Defiance

$217K▲ 2.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Defiance home is worth about $217,000, up 2.8% in a year, 10% below the Iowa typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Defiance

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Most working residents leave Defiance for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Harlan (20%), Elk Horn (9%) and Omaha (6%). Half commute less than 23 miles.

Harlan

20%

Elk Horn

Omaha, NE

Denison

4%Work in townlive and work in Defiance 23 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 125Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Defiance →

Health in Defiance

Compared with Iowa

10better than IA·6worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 16 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits all close Care 5▲ 2 close Mind 1▲ 4 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

4.6%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offIA 6.4% · better 6.9%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityIA 9.4% · better 11.8%More adults who have had cancerIA 8.7% · worse

Care nearby

Myrtue Medical CenterHarlan · 12.3 mi · ER · rural critical access

New Visions Homeless ServicesCouncil Bluffs · 46.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Defiance · CMS · HRSAHealth in Defiance →

Natural hazards in Defiance

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 68% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌵 Drought

0Does Defiance flood?no paid flood claims on record 7Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Defiance

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Defiance →

Climate in Defiance

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Defiance has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 11°, and about 35 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

32° / 14°Winter

60° / 37°Spring

82° / 61°Summer

62° / 39°Fall