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COUNTY

Union County

South Carolina · 26,799 residents (2025 est.) · 513.585 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 $41,621. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 15% 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 $103,600. With a median age of 44.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 40% less than the South Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% 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
26,885
−10%since 2000
from 29,881 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
52 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 54 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.5
+15%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:26,799 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
27K28K29K30K31K1990201020202024Union County
202427K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.1%(1,360)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(1,816)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.1%(1,379)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.1%(1,650)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(1,304)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412%(3,214)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.8%(2,910)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(3,433)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(4,009)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.9%(3,466)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.2%(1,663)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(681)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,621
−27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,441 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,229
+71%since 2000
from $15,877 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.2%
+15.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
22.6%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
+3%since 2010
from 0.454 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade25.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance9.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Information8.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$103,600
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$804
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $373 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.3%
−5.4 ptssince 2000
from 76.7% in 2000
28.7% rent
Vacancy rate
14.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.5%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.7%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 35.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+19%since 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
9
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-Hispanic67.5%(20,155)
Black30.9%(9,247)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(199)
Asian0.2%(53)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.2%(17,272)
Black27.5%(7,387)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(559)
Asian0.2%(43)
Other6%(1,624)
Diversity Score
63
+11%since 2009
from 57 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
31
+24%since 2020
from 25 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%(141)
Puerto Rican0.5%(141)
Venezuelan0.5%(139)
Honduran0.2%(67)
Spaniard0.2%(41)
Cuban0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.1%(28)
Korean0%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American10.9%(2,924)
English8.9%(2,401)
Irish7.9%(2,120)
German5.3%(1,417)
Italian1.7%(459)
Dutch1.2%(330)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(316)
Scottish1%(282)
Swedish0.9%(235)
French0.7%(186)
Polish0.4%(120)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.4%(117)
West Indian0.4%(95)
Barbadian0.4%(95)
Greek0.3%(84)
Swiss0.3%(76)
Welsh0.2%(61)
British0.1%(39)
Portuguese0.1%(38)
Hungarian0.1%(16)
Danish0%(2)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.0%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
82.1%
+15.1 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.4 min
+44%since 2000
from 19.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 83.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% 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
10.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.9%
−6.9 ptssince 2011
from 14.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 57.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.6%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
24.5%
−35.3 ptssince 2009
from 59.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
Female
52.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.8%
−38.3 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2012
from 21.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.5%
−73.3 ptssince 2013
from 83.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.3%
+25.6 ptssince 2017
from 56.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 98.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.4%(3,585)
Married44.8%(4,666)
Widowed5.7%(599)
Divorced15.1%(1,570)
Women 15+
Never married30.8%(3,670)
Married43.5%(5,180)
Widowed14.3%(1,704)
Divorced11.4%(1,356)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 28,801
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Pop 26,225
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Head to head

Compare Union County to nearby counties

UNION COUNTY VS
Cherokee County
Income$50,288+21%
Home value$142,000+37%
Population58,275+117%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Chester County
Income$52,458+26%
Home value$158,300+53%
Population33,001+23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Laurens County
Income$57,623+38%
Home value$170,600+65%
Population71,848+168%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Spartanburg County
Income$66,234+59%
Home value$233,300+125%
Population380,857+1321%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Union County, South Carolina?

Union County, South Carolina has about 26,885 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Union County, South Carolina?

The typical household in Union County, South Carolina earns about $41,621 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Union County, South Carolina expensive?

In Union County, South Carolina, the median home is worth about $103,600, and the typical rent is about $804 a month.

How educated are people in Union County, South Carolina?

About 15.0% of adults age 25 and over in Union County, South Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Union County, South Carolina?

About 22.6% of people in Union County, South Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Union County, South Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Union County, South Carolina has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,452 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

10 census tracts
Census Tract 303Census Tract 307Census Tract 308Census Tract 304.02Census Tract 304.01Census Tract 309Census Tract 302Census Tract 301Census Tract 305Census Tract 306
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 29379ZIP 29353ZIP 29321ZIP 29364
Up the hierarchy
All counties in South Carolina
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →