United States › Iowa › Union County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Union County Iowa · 12,138 residents · 424 sq mi
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The short version
Union County is home to 12,138 people in Iowa. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $109,600. 2% of people here were born outside the United States. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The average commute runs 16 minutes. Renters pay $610 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 40.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 40.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K 12K 12K 13K 13K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Union County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $50,375
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,905 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,690 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.8%
Public administration 3.2%
Transportation & warehousing 2.7%
Education & health services 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.9%
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$109,600
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$610
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $344 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 72.1% in 2000
30.3% rent
from 2.24 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.8%(12,044)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 92.5%(11,223)
Hispanic / Latino 3.3%(399)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 14.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 87.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 69.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 10.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 31.5%(1,538)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 10.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 15%(131)
Gulf War (1990s) 10.5%(92)
Share of the 874 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Union County Head to head
Compare Union County to nearby counties UNION COUNTY VS
Ringgold County
Income $73,346 +46%
Home value $156,200 +43%
Population 4,642 −61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Adams County
Income $71,875 +43%
Home value $131,600 +20%
Population 3,617 −69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Clarke County
Income $71,641 +42%
Home value $161,100 +47%
Population 9,574 −19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Adair County
Income $68,092 +35%
Home value $160,400 +46%
Population 7,403 −37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Union County, Iowa? Union County, Iowa has about 12,138 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Union County, Iowa? The typical household in Union County, Iowa earns about $50,375 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 $109,600, and the typical rent is about $610 a month.
How educated are people in Union County, Iowa? About 22.4% 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 11.9% 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 612 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.
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