Union County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Union County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 28,009. It is the 30th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Union County is 38.4 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Union County is $56,807. This is 3% higher than the state median of $54,915. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 14.3%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $159,100. Housing costs are 1% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Union County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 69.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Union County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 16.1%. The Black or African American population (16.1%) is well below the state average of 36.9%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.

Education

17.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 24.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 78.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Union County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Mississippi 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.