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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Union County

South Carolina · 27,244 residents · 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 $41,117. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value is $80,300. With a median age of 45.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.8. Households here earn about 25% less than the South Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 45.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 6%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
27,244
−9%since 2000
from 29,881 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
53 / sq mi
−9%since 2000
from 58 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
45.1
+17%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
27K28K29K30K31K1990201020202024Union County
202427K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$41,117
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,441 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,142
+52%since 2000
from $15,877 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
20.2%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
19.9%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade25.8%
US avg: 10%
Information13.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services2.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$80,300
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$707
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $373 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
69.4%
−7.2 ptssince 2000
from 76.7% in 2000
30.6% rent
Afford Score
2.0
+8%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score55.1%(16,463)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic63.4%(17,279)
Black31%(8,435)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(438)
Asian0.3%(78)
Other4.2%(1,145)
Diversity Score63.1%(17,185)
Segregation Score25.3%(6,885)
Diversity Score
63
+14%since 2000
from 55 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
25
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
84.2%
+17.3 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
3.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.0 min
+47%since 2000
from 19.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
84.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 83.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
9.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.7%
−7.1 ptssince 2011
from 14.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 57.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
24.2%
−35.7 ptssince 2009
from 59.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
Female
52.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.3%
−73.5 ptssince 2013
from 83.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Union County

Sumter County
Pop 28,801
Johnson County
Pop 26,225
St. Francis County
Pop 21,800
Barbour County
Pop 24,607
Places similar to Union County
Head to head

Compare Union County to nearby counties

UNION COUNTY VS
Cherokee County
Income$50,288+22%
Home value$142,000+77%
Population58,275+117%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Chester County
Income$52,458+28%
Home value$158,300+97%
Population33,001+23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Laurens County
Income$57,623+40%
Home value$170,600+112%
Population71,848+168%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
UNION COUNTY VS
Spartanburg County
Income$66,234+61%
Home value$233,300+191%
Population380,857+1321%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Union County, South Carolina?

Union County, South Carolina has about 27,244 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Union County, South Carolina earns about $41,117 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 $80,300, and the typical rent is about $707 a month.

How educated are people in Union County, South Carolina?

About 13.5% 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 19.9% 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 3,093 residents, a change of about -10 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
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →