United States › Illinois › Union County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Union County Illinois · 17,244 residents · 413 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 17,244 people, Union County is a county in Illinois. At a median age of 44.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $110,500. 75% of homes are owner-occupied. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The foreign-born share is 3%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
23% 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 40.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 17K 18K 18K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Union County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $51,655
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,994 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,450 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 16.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.4%
Public administration 2.1%
Education & health services 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing 0.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.2%
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$110,500
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $60,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$639
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $341 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 75.4% in 2000
25.3% rent
from 2.36 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.2 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 95.2%(17,407)
Hispanic / Latino 2.6%(481)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 88.9%(15,331)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 74.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 81.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 54.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 13.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 29.5%(2,124)
Women 15+
Never married 23.9%(1,649)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.6% 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) 10.3%(129)
Share of the 1,247 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
Pulaski County
Income $42,463 −18%
Home value $85,100 −23%
Population 4,820 −71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Johnson County
Income $62,528 +21%
Home value $160,500 +45%
Population 13,363 −20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Alexander County
Income $47,043 −9%
Home value $59,800 −46%
Population 4,570 −73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income $48,763 −6%
Home value $137,300 +24%
Population 52,501 +215%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Union County, Illinois? Union County, Illinois has about 17,244 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Union County, Illinois? The typical household in Union County, Illinois earns about $51,655 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Union County, Illinois expensive? In Union County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $110,500, and the typical rent is about $639 a month.
How educated are people in Union County, Illinois? About 23.1% of adults age 25 and over in Union County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Union County, Illinois? About 18.4% of people in Union County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.
Has Union County, Illinois grown since 1990? Yes, Union County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 375 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.
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