COUNTY
Union County
Iowa · 11,829 residents (2025 est.) · 423.645 sq mi
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The short version
Union County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $57,772. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $122,000.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth
PEP 2025 EST:11,829 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)
Population, 1990 – 2024
202412K
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(639)
5 to 95%(603)
10 to 146.9%(823)
15 to 198.3%(999)
20 to 246.2%(739)
25 to 3410.8%(1,291)
35 to 4412.5%(1,501)
45 to 5411.2%(1,338)
55 to 6413.1%(1,570)
65 to 7411.6%(1,393)
75 to 847.3%(874)
85 and over1.9%(223)
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy
$57,772
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,905 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Households earning $100K+
37.2%
+17.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.9%
Information12.9%
Wholesale trade8.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7%
Construction6.8%
Finance & insurance4.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
Other services3.2%
Public administration2.9%
Education & health services0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
Manufacturing0.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03
Housing
$122,000
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
2.1
+5%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
34
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Union County on RentDataNow
Section 04
Race & ethnicity
2000
White, non-Hispanic97.8%(12,044)
Black0.2%(28)
Hispanic / Latino1%(125)
Asian0.3%(31)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.9%(11,018)
Black0.8%(93)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(460)
Asian0.9%(106)
Other2.6%(316)
19
+114%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
16
−31%since 2020
from 23 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry
Hispanic origin
Mexican3.3%(397)
Cuban0.2%(28)
Central American0.1%(15)
Guatemalan0.1%(15)
South American0.1%(11)
Argentine0.1%(11)
Spaniard0.1%(8)
Puerto Rican0%(1)
Ancestry
German25.2%(3,017)
English16.4%(1,971)
Irish15%(1,793)
American5.8%(699)
Swedish3.9%(462)
Dutch2.4%(289)
French2.3%(273)
Norwegian2.1%(247)
Scottish2%(245)
Czech1.4%(170)
Welsh1.3%(155)
Polish1.3%(150)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish1.2%(143)
Danish0.9%(111)
Swiss0.7%(80)
Italian0.4%(51)
Hungarian0.3%(38)
Subsaharan African0.2%(21)
British0.2%(20)
French Canadian0.2%(20)
Austrian0.1%(12)
Canadian0.1%(6)
Portuguese0%(5)
Section 05
Education
High school or higher
91.5%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 87.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Section 06
Commute & transportation
Section 07
Work & employment
Section 08
People & community
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.5%(1,538)
Married50.7%(2,476)
Widowed4.4%(216)
Divorced13.3%(651)
Women 15+
Never married29%(1,465)
Married47.8%(2,412)
Widowed11.6%(586)
Divorced11.6%(584)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper
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Pop 11,763
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Pop 13,285
Places similar to Union CountyHead to head
Compare Union County to nearby counties
UNION COUNTY VS
Ringgold County
Income$73,346+27%
Home value$156,200+28%
Population4,642−61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Adams County
Income$71,875+24%
Home value$131,600+8%
Population3,617−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Clarke County
Income$71,641+24%
Home value$161,100+32%
Population9,574−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Adair County
Income$68,092+18%
Home value$160,400+31%
Population7,403−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Union County, Iowa?
Union County, Iowa has about 11,993 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Union County, Iowa?
The typical household in Union County, Iowa earns about $57,772 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Union County, Iowa expensive?
In Union County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $122,000, and the typical rent is about $721 a month.
How educated are people in Union County, Iowa?
About 23.3% of adults age 25 and over in Union County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Union County, Iowa?
About 12.4% of people in Union County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Union County, Iowa grown since 1990?
Yes, Union County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 757 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.
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All counties in IowaDATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024