Population 5,578 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Union
Household size in West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.59 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.50 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Households in West Union 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 dropped from 2.48, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.3 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.9 | 40.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.1 | 41.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
West Union skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 44.3 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 13.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% of households in West Union, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 5.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. West Union has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of South Carolina cities.
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 West Union
Renters in West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 30.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 28.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.0% of households in West Union rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly half of owners (47.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.4% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 14.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 18.4% | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 11.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.3% of the housing in West Union, 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. Vacancy is down 7.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1987 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1992 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1992 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +6 |
West Union has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1992, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1987 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $535 | $780 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $731 | $859 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $762 | $984 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $881 | $1,294 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$346 | +$514 | +$606 |
A typical rental in West Union costs $881 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $346 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 35.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 West Union
Bachelor's degrees in West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.4% | 25.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 26.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.6% | 28.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.2% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in West Union than nationally: 31.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 3.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the west.
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 West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.1% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.2% | 85.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.4% | 87.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +6.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in West Union is close to the national rate: 87.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in South Carolina as a whole (90.2%). The share with a diploma has risen 4.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 West Union
| Period | West Union | South Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −4.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Union runs below the national rate: 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.4 points, mirroring the country. 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).
West Union compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Union | 2.39 | 46.1 | 8.1% | 17.0% | 14.3% | 1992 | $881 | 31.2% | 87.9% | 4.5% |
| Walhalla | 2.53 | 44.1 | 11.3% | 26.6% | 13.7% | 1982 | $1,022 | 21.5% | 83.2% | 6.6% |
| Newry | 2.03 | 55.0 | 2.2% | 19.2% | 15.6% | 1998 | $944 | 57.0% | 94.4% | 3.3% |
| Seneca | 2.29 | 43.6 | 10.8% | 31.0% | 15.1% | 1988 | $953 | 30.6% | 88.4% | 6.2% |
| Salem | 2.22 | 60.8 | 3.1% | 4.9% | 23.7% | 1991 | $915 | 48.5% | 89.3% | 3.2% |
| Tamassee | 2.34 | 50.2 | 7.6% | 11.8% | 33.4% | 1992 | $958 | 21.1% | 88.2% | 6.2% |
| Mountain Rest | 2.41 | 48.2 | 19.2% | 18.4% | 33.8% | 1986 | $752 | 36.6% | 95.2% | 9.8% |
| Keowee | 1.89 | 28.2 | 1.5% | 33.9% | 9.4% | 1996 | $1,037 | 61.8% | 97.0% | 7.4% |
| Westminster | 2.37 | 45.3 | 9.2% | 18.5% | 23.1% | 1985 | $767 | 17.1% | 83.1% | 4.0% |
| Whetstone | 2.17 | 49.1 | 19.7% | 19.9% | 22.9% | 1981 | $648 | 29.6% | 94.3% | 12.4% |
| Six Mile | 2.38 | 48.0 | 5.4% | 9.1% | 26.9% | 1996 | $838 | 33.0% | 89.6% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Durham, CA · Dover Foxcroft, ME · Dover Plains, NY · Dresden, OH · Dresden, TN · Dryden, NY · Dumas, AR · Dundee, NY · Dundee, OR · Dupo, IL
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 West Union. 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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