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COUNTY

Union County

Kentucky · 12,839 residents (2025 est.) · 342.878 sq mi
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#142Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-6.1%
The short version

Union County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,327. Population has fallen 15% since 2000, a loss of 2,377 residents. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $104,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% 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

Total population
13,260
−15%since 2000
from 15,637 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
39 / sq mi
−13%since 2009
from 44 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.4
+23%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,839 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K14K15K16K17K1990201020202024Union County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.2%(685)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(760)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.4%(582)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.4%(848)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.8%(907)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.4%(1,515)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.9%(1,713)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.4%(1,646)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(1,973)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.9%(1,712)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.4%(581)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(338)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,327
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,018 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,559
+75%since 2000
from $17,465 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.7%
+19.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.448
+14%since 2010
from 0.394 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade7.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Manufacturing6%
US avg: 0.4%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction3.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services2.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$104,500
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$790
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $337 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.2%
−7.6 ptssince 2000
from 77.9% in 2000
29.8% rent
Vacancy rate
11.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.2%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 28.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
−11%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
21
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-Hispanic84.4%(13,200)
Black12.6%(1,977)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(244)
Asian0.1%(22)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.1%(11,688)
Black6.9%(915)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(232)
Asian0.1%(18)
Other3.1%(407)
Diversity Score
27
−27%since 2009
from 37 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
31
−20%since 2020
from 39 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
Mexican0.5%(68)
Puerto Rican0.2%(30)
Guatemalan0.1%(13)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(14)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English13.4%(1,781)
German11.8%(1,566)
Irish10.8%(1,426)
American7.3%(969)
Italian1.3%(175)
French1.3%(172)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(167)
Scottish0.8%(106)
British0.7%(95)
Polish0.7%(94)
Welsh0.6%(78)
Russian0.5%(69)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0.4%(59)
Dutch0.4%(48)
Syrian0.3%(41)
Swedish0.2%(31)
Norwegian0.1%(13)
Egyptian0.1%(11)
Austrian0.1%(8)
Danish0%(3)
Haitian0%(3)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.1%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.3%
+14.4 ptssince 2000
from 76.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.1 min
+29%since 2000
from 17.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.6%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.7%
−6.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 51.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.0%
−29.3 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
50.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−44.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
28.5%
+10.9 ptssince 2012
from 17.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−76.1 ptssince 2013
from 81.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.4%
+20.3 ptssince 2017
from 69.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 98.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married32%(1,777)
Married51.8%(2,878)
Widowed2.4%(136)
Divorced13.7%(763)
Women 15+
Never married24.3%(1,380)
Married51.1%(2,901)
Widowed10.6%(601)
Divorced14%(797)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Union County

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Pop 12,793
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Pop 13,121
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Pop 12,866
Towns County
Pop 13,285
Places similar to Union County
Head to head

Compare Union County to nearby counties

UNION COUNTY VS
Gallatin County
Income$59,219−2%
Home value$82,900−21%
Population4,616−64%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Webster County
Income$59,628−1%
Home value$112,900+8%
Population12,929+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Hardin County
Income$54,271−10%
Home value$103,800−1%
Population3,588−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Crittenden County
Income$46,656−23%
Home value$127,300+22%
Population8,807−31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Union County, Kentucky?

Union County, Kentucky has about 13,260 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Union County, Kentucky?

The typical household in Union County, Kentucky earns about $60,327 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Union County, Kentucky expensive?

In Union County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $104,500, and the typical rent is about $790 a month.

How educated are people in Union County, Kentucky?

About 13.1% of adults age 25 and over in Union County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Union County, Kentucky?

About 18.4% of people in Union County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Union County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Union County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,297 residents, a change of about -20 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9501
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 42437ZIP 42459ZIP 42462ZIP 42461
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →