Population 8,507 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Union Square
Household size in Union Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.45 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.46 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.53 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.65 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.20 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Union Square are small: just 1.65 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. Household size has climbed from 1.45 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only one other San Francisco neighborhood has smaller 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 Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.5 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.8 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.5 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Union Square skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.5, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.0, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.7% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.6% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.4% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.7% of households in Union Square, well below the national share of 11.6%. Union Square has a lower share of single-parent households than most San Francisco neighborhoods.
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 Square
Renters in Union Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.2% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 93.9% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 92.5% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 90.8% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Union Square rent: 90.8% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.4 points, even as the national share rose. Only one other San Francisco neighborhood has a higher 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 Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.3% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 21.6% of the housing in Union Square, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. No other San Francisco neighborhood has a higher 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 Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1940 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1939 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1940 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +14 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Union Square is a place of older homes: half were built before 1953, 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 1940 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the north 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 Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $907 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,149 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,446 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,700 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$793 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Union Square runs $1,700 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in the San Francisco area overall ($2,666). Rent has climbed $793 a month since 2006–10, up 87%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.0% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Square
Bachelor's degrees in Union Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.5% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.1% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 57.4% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.9% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Union Square: 47.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Still, the share is lower than in the San Francisco area overall (52.2%). The share with a degree has risen 6.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.7% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.3% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.3% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.9% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in six adults in Union Square never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has fallen 3.7 points, even as the national rate rose.
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 Square
| Period | Union Square | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Union Square runs well above the national rate: 12.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only one other San Francisco neighborhood has higher unemployment. Unemployment has risen 1.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Square compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Square | 1.65 | 42.5 | 3.7% | 90.8% | 21.6% | 1953 | $1,700 | 47.9% | 83.9% | 12.6% |
| Chinatown-San Francisco | 1.96 | 52.8 | 5.0% | 90.5% | 18.5% | 1939 | $1,137 | 29.8% | 58.5% | 10.3% |
| Downtown San Francisco | 1.57 | 43.6 | 5.7% | 92.3% | 16.8% | 1962 | $1,636 | 40.6% | 80.0% | 10.4% |
| Nob Hill | 1.68 | 41.8 | 2.4% | 82.7% | 21.1% | 1944 | $2,377 | 62.8% | 87.8% | 5.0% |
| South of Market | 1.84 | 38.0 | 4.8% | 70.5% | 14.0% | 2000 | $2,873 | 67.0% | 91.3% | 6.6% |
| Russian Hill | 1.84 | 39.1 | 3.7% | 77.7% | 17.1% | 1941 | $2,793 | 79.7% | 95.3% | 3.7% |
| Financial District | 1.73 | 40.7 | 4.5% | 77.1% | 21.4% | 1991 | $2,810 | 70.8% | 89.3% | 6.9% |
| Pacific Heights | 1.72 | 38.8 | 2.5% | 71.0% | 16.4% | 1940 | $3,074 | 84.3% | 97.4% | 4.4% |
| Western Addition | 1.96 | 40.2 | 3.9% | 77.7% | 13.0% | 1959 | $2,340 | 66.6% | 93.4% | 6.7% |
| Cow Hollow | 1.96 | 34.5 | 4.2% | 70.4% | 16.7% | 1941 | $3,214 | 83.1% | 97.2% | 2.8% |
| North Beach | 1.93 | 45.4 | 4.6% | 79.0% | 17.3% | 1956 | $2,132 | 56.8% | 83.9% | 6.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Rossville, Staten Island, NY · Duluth Heights, Duluth, MN · East English Village, Detroit, MI · Edgerton, Rochester, NY · Elvira, Summit, AZ · Harvest Bend, Houston, TX · Arnett Benson, Lubbock, TX · Hosford-Abernethy, Portland, OR · Kirkwood, Coralville, IA · Los Angeles Heights-Keystone, San Antonio, TX
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 Square. 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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