Population 26,144 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Union County
Household size in Union County
| Period | Union County | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.45 | 2.50 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.55 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Union County are small: just 2.39 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.45, mirroring the country.
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 | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.8 | 39.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.1 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.1 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.9 | 41.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.0 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Union County are younger than 39.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in Oregon as a whole, where the median age is 41.6. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 40.8, even as the national median rose.
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 | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.4% | 9.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Union County than nationally: 9.0%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.0% | 36.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.9% | 38.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.5% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.5% | 36.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +0.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in Union County rent their homes (34.5%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Nearly half of owners (47.6%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the north.
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 | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 8.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 7.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Union County is close to the national rate: 8.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1976 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Union County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the east, while the west has the oldest housing.
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 | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $657 | $870 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $753 | $982 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $823 | $1,183 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,039 | $1,601 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$382 | +$731 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Union County costs $1,039 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $382 a month since 2006–10, up 58%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.4% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.9% | 29.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.5% | 30.2% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.5% | 33.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.0% | 36.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Union County (26.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.5% | 88.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.1% | 89.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.7% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 91.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +3.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Union County is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.1 points, mirroring the country. Union County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Oregon counties.
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 | Oregon | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.8% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.6%, unemployment in Union County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.2 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 | 2.39 | 39.9 | 9.0% | 34.5% | 8.8% | 1971 | $1,039 | 26.0% | 93.6% | 5.6% |
| Wallowa County | 2.22 | 49.3 | 8.5% | 27.5% | 21.5% | 1970 | $1,127 | 38.7% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| Umatilla County | 2.72 | 37.3 | 16.7% | 32.1% | 10.6% | 1979 | $1,097 | 18.5% | 83.1% | 5.2% |
| Morrow County | 2.92 | 37.2 | 13.0% | 28.4% | 10.1% | 1982 | $1,064 | 9.9% | 74.9% | 2.3% |
| Adams County | 2.66 | 53.1 | 3.5% | 15.3% | 32.1% | 1985 | $906 | 22.2% | 93.1% | 7.4% |
| Gilliam County | 2.25 | 50.7 | 5.9% | 25.9% | 20.3% | 1971 | $1,174 | 20.6% | 88.3% | 2.6% |
| Wheeler County | 2.09 | 56.9 | 3.3% | 28.2% | 19.0% | 1968 | $929 | 18.8% | 90.8% | 2.6% |
| Sherman County | 2.40 | 43.8 | 9.4% | 34.1% | 17.0% | 1960 | $1,021 | 16.0% | 91.1% | 0.9% |
| Klickitat County | 2.36 | 47.0 | 8.1% | 23.3% | 9.5% | 1984 | $1,191 | 31.0% | 89.4% | 5.8% |
| Wasco County | 2.41 | 43.2 | 8.7% | 32.5% | 12.6% | 1970 | $1,125 | 22.0% | 85.7% | 8.0% |
| Hood River County | 2.65 | 41.7 | 9.7% | 30.6% | 14.8% | 1983 | $1,545 | 41.8% | 87.1% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Juneau City and Borough, AK · Jefferson Davis Parish, LA · Jennings County, IN · Jerome County, ID · Abbeville County, SC · Johnson County, AR · Yauco Municipio, PR · Jones County, GA · Yankton County, SD · Jefferson County, WA
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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