Skip to main content

Union County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Union County, Kentucky has a population of 13,260, the 81st most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $60,327 and the median home value is $104,500. The poverty rate is 18.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Union County Quick Facts

Population 13,260
Median Household Income $60,327
Median Home Value $104,500
Poverty Rate 18.4%
Unemployment Rate 2.7%
Median Age 42.4 years
Homeownership Rate 70.2%
Affordability Ratio 1.7x
Bachelor's Degree+ 13.1%
High School Graduation 91.3%
Cities/Places 5
Population 13,260 81st of 120
Median Income $60,327 5% lower than state
Poverty Rate 18.4%
Unemployment 2.7%

How Union County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population13,37913,260-0.9%
Median household income$60,989$60,327-1.1%
Median home value$109,000$104,500-4.1%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.5%
$25K-$50K 21.3%
$50K-$100K 31.1%
$100K+ 24.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.0%
$10K-$15K
4.7%
$15K-$20K
6.9%
$20K-$25K
5.0%
$25K-$30K
4.2%
$30K-$35K
2.7%
$35K-$40K
6.0%
$40K-$45K
3.7%
$45K-$50K
4.6%
$50K-$60K
4.9%
$60K-$75K
12.7%
$75K-$100K
13.5%
$100K-$125K
10.6%
$125K-$150K
4.5%
$150K-$200K
6.7%
$200K+
2.3%

Employment

2.7% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
52.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.2%
Renter 29.8%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
1.7x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $790/mo 15.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

22out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 33 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Union County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Morganfield3,185$65,82915.9%$113,600
Sturgis1,864$36,78016.4%$84,500
Breckinridge Center1,467$64,15251.8%N/A
Uniontown874$43,85713.3%$61,900
Waverly403$62,18816.9%$95,000

Population Overview

Union County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 13,260. It is the 81st most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Union County is 42.4 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Union County is $60,327. This is 5% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.4%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $104,500. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.7x, Union County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Union County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 6.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

13.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Union County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kentucky and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Union County, Kentucky?

Union County has a population of 13,260, making it the 81st most populous county in Kentucky.

What is the median income in Union County?

The median household income in Union County is $60,327 with a poverty rate of 18.4%.

How many cities are in Union County, Kentucky?

Union County contains 5 Census-designated places.