Population 250,958 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Union County
Household size in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.95 | 2.60 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.04 | 2.68 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.03 | 2.67 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.02 | 2.62 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Union County are large by national standards, averaging 3.02 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has crept up from 2.95 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. No other North Carolina county has larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.8 | 36.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.9 | 37.8 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.6 | 38.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.2 | 38.8 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +2.0 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Union County are younger than 39.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.8, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the south.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 12.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 11.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 11.3% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Union County (9.4%), below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other North Carolina counties, Union County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Union County
Renters in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 30.9% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 33.4% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 34.3% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.4% | 34.1% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Union County is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 29.2% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only eight have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 10.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 10.0% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 8.6% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 8.3% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Union County: 6.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Only one other North Carolina county has a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1993 | 1986 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1993 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1995 | 1989 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1998 | 1994 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Union County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1998, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1993 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the east. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only six have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,068 | $875 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,155 | $966 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,371 | $1,127 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,775 | $1,552 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$707 | +$678 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Union County runs $1,775 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $707 a month from 2006–10, a 66% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.0% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. No other North Carolina county has higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Union County
Bachelor's degrees in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.0% | 30.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.6% | 32.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.1% | 35.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 41.7% | 40.6% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | +10.0 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Union County than nationally: 41.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 9.8 points, mirroring the country. Few North Carolina counties have a higher share of college graduates: only nine of 100.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.4% | 85.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.5% | 87.3% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.9% | 89.2% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.5% | 90.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +4.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Union County is close to the national rate: 90.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.1 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Union County
| Period | Union County | Charlotte area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 10.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −4.8 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Union County than nationally: unemployment was 4.2%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Union County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 3.02 | 39.2 | 9.4% | 18.4% | 6.6% | 1998 | $1,775 | 41.7% | 90.5% | 4.2% |
| York County | 2.61 | 40.1 | 10.7% | 25.5% | 6.5% | 1998 | $1,419 | 40.5% | 92.9% | 4.0% |
| Anson County | 2.49 | 42.8 | 13.8% | 31.5% | 13.4% | 1975 | $852 | 10.3% | 83.3% | 5.1% |
| Richmond County | 2.48 | 40.8 | 18.7% | 34.1% | 14.0% | 1977 | $778 | 16.6% | 84.0% | 10.5% |
| Cherokee County | 2.57 | 40.2 | 13.4% | 26.2% | 13.2% | 1984 | $856 | 19.7% | 85.2% | 6.4% |
| Spartanburg County | 2.65 | 38.8 | 12.8% | 27.0% | 9.1% | 1990 | $1,176 | 24.9% | 88.5% | 4.4% |
| Hoke County | 2.79 | 34.4 | 15.6% | 27.0% | 7.4% | 1998 | $1,152 | 23.6% | 89.0% | 6.6% |
| Cumberland County | 2.57 | 34.5 | 14.4% | 45.0% | 10.8% | 1988 | $1,262 | 27.6% | 93.1% | 7.7% |
| Sampson County | 2.77 | 39.8 | 13.8% | 26.2% | 16.7% | 1987 | $843 | 16.2% | 84.3% | 4.9% |
| Duplin County | 2.40 | 42.3 | 13.3% | 29.7% | 12.7% | 1985 | $877 | 18.4% | 82.4% | 5.6% |
| Macon County | 2.10 | 49.6 | 6.2% | 22.4% | 26.9% | 1987 | $822 | 27.3% | 89.9% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Montgomery County, AL · Lackawanna County, PA · Lexington County, SC · Luzerne County, PA · Madison County, IL · Marin County, CA · McHenry County, IL · McLennan County, TX · Merced County, CA · Minnehaha County, SD
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Union County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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