Population 17,081 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Union County
Household size in Union County
| Period | Union County | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.51 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.31 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.48 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Union County is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.42, in line with the national trend.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.7 | 38.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.4 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.0 | 38.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
At 41.0, the median age in Union County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in South Dakota as a whole, where the median age is 38.9. The median age has climbed from 40.0 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −0.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Union County: 7.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.9% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.3% | 32.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.8% | 32.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.9% | 31.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +0.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Union County own their homes; 26.9% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About four in ten owners (40.0%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the center. The renter share is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 11.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Union County: just 4.2% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 1.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other South Dakota 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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1977 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +9 | +6 |
Union County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing. Few South Dakota counties have newer homes: only four of 66.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $670 | $631 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $719 | $692 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $861 | $798 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,078 | $1,000 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$408 | +$369 | +$606 |
The median renter in Union County pays $1,078 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in South Dakota overall ($1,000). Rent has climbed $408 a month since 2006–10, up 61%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 23.6% 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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.4% | 26.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.3% | 27.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.5% | 29.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.7% | 32.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in Union County (37.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is higher than in South Dakota as a whole (32.5%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.4 points, in line with the national trend. Of South Dakota's 66 counties, only four have a higher share of college graduates.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.2% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.4% | 91.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.0% | 93.1% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Union County: 96.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.8 points, as it has nationally. Few South Dakota counties have a higher share of high school graduates: only six of 66.
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 | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.9% | 4.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 4.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.7% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 3.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Union County has been low: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. South Dakota as a whole looks much the same. 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 | 2.33 | 41.0 | 7.4% | 26.9% | 4.2% | 1989 | $1,078 | 37.7% | 96.0% | 3.1% |
| Plymouth County | 2.49 | 41.9 | 8.8% | 26.4% | 6.0% | 1970 | $891 | 21.6% | 94.6% | 2.3% |
| Cedar County | 2.38 | 43.7 | 5.3% | 20.4% | 12.1% | 1963 | $710 | 23.7% | 96.4% | 1.7% |
| Cherokee County | 2.26 | 45.1 | 6.8% | 24.5% | 9.3% | 1957 | $750 | 24.5% | 93.2% | 2.5% |
| Knox County | 2.42 | 44.7 | 8.5% | 21.6% | 23.5% | 1963 | $634 | 18.9% | 92.5% | 3.7% |
| Buena Vista County | 2.67 | 36.9 | 10.7% | 26.8% | 8.7% | 1964 | $926 | 21.7% | 80.6% | 5.3% |
| Pocahontas County | 2.31 | 43.4 | 7.2% | 22.7% | 17.4% | 1950 | $801 | 19.0% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Humboldt County | 2.25 | 43.3 | 13.3% | 22.8% | 9.1% | 1959 | $798 | 19.5% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
| Wright County | 2.41 | 40.1 | 13.4% | 23.0% | 14.6% | 1960 | $845 | 24.6% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Rock County | 2.25 | 48.4 | 3.0% | 30.7% | 27.4% | 1968 | $648 | 27.4% | 92.1% | 1.0% |
| Brown County | 2.22 | 45.3 | 6.4% | 25.8% | 22.8% | 1959 | $888 | 23.9% | 92.5% | 1.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Jefferson County, MT · Jackson County, WI · Jackson Parish, LA · Jasper County, GA · Jasper County, IL · Jasper County, MS · Jay County, IN · Jayuya Municipio, PR · Jeff Davis County, GA · Jefferson County, FL
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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