Union County, New Jersey Demographics 2026

Name: Union County, New Jersey Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Union County, New Jersey has a population of 579,290, the 7th most populous county in New Jersey. The median household income is $103,202 and the median home value is $529,200. The poverty rate is 9.2%.

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

Union County Quick Facts

Population 579,290

Median Household Income $103,202

Median Home Value $529,200

Poverty Rate 9.2%

Unemployment Rate 6.5%

Median Age 39.1 years

Homeownership Rate 57.4%

Affordability Ratio 5.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 38.9%

High School Graduation 86.3%

Cities/Places 18

Population 579,290 7th of 21

Median Income $103,202 about the same as state

Poverty Rate 9.2%

Unemployment 6.5%

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.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	572,549	579,290	+1.2%
Median household income	$100,117	$103,202	+3.1%
Median home value	$488,800	$529,200	+8.3%

Median Household Income

Union

$103,202

$103,556

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Union

$529,200

$454,400

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 9.9%

$25K-$50K 13.5%

$50K-$100K 25.2%

$100K+ 51.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.1%

$10K-$15K

2.5%

$15K-$20K

2.2%

$20K-$25K

2.1%

$25K-$30K

2.3%

$30K-$35K

3.0%

$35K-$40K

2.7%

$40K-$45K

3.0%

$45K-$50K

2.5%

$50K-$60K

5.2%

$60K-$75K

7.9%

$75K-$100K

12.1%

$100K-$125K

9.1%

$125K-$150K

8.3%

$150K-$200K

11.3%

$200K+

22.7%

Employment

6.5% Unemployment Rate State: 6.3%|National: 5.2%

69.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 57.4%

Renter 42.6%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,730/mo 20.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.5%

18-34

20.8%

35-54

27.7%

55-74

21.8%

75+

6.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very High Diversity

This community is exceptionally diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group dominating the population.

State average: 66 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Union County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Elizabeth	137,302	$66,555	15.8%	$449,300
Plainfield	55,236	$85,908	15.5%	$410,800
Linden	44,192	$92,915	9.6%	$419,700
Westfield	31,111	$232,629	1.8%	$953,400
Rahway	30,109	$91,461	9.5%	$386,400
Summit	22,705	$190,304	5.5%	$994,500
Roselle	22,646	$92,762	9.5%	$379,900
Roselle Park	14,093	$109,679	6.6%	$443,200
New Providence	13,727	$161,599	2.1%	$769,900
Kenilworth	8,401	$118,611	6.3%	$522,200
Fanwood	7,799	$195,529	0.9%	$635,200
Mountainside	7,049	$211,538	3.7%	$810,300
Garwood	4,885	$110,670	10.0%	$533,300
Union	2,774	$182,730	10.6%	$510,800
Cranford	1,937	$79,508	2.2%	$646,500
Kean University	1,362	N/A	N/A	N/A
Springfield	1,304	$250,000+	0.3%	$607,900
Connecticut Farms	516	$75,396	3.1%	$434,600

Explore New Jersey Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Union County is located in New Jersey with a total population of 579,290. It is the 7th most populous county out of 21 in New Jersey. The county encompasses 18 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Union County is 39.1 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Union County is $103,202. This is about the same as the state median of $103,556. It is also 28% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.2%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.7%. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $529,200. Housing costs are 16% higher than the state median of $454,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 57.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% lower than the state average of 63.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Union County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 35.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (19.1% vs 12.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (35.2% vs 22.5%).

Education

38.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 43.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.3%. Notably, 15.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

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 New Jersey 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, New Jersey?

Union County has a population of 579,290, making it the 7th most populous county in New Jersey.

What is the median income in Union County?

The median household income in Union County is $103,202 with a poverty rate of 9.2%.

How many cities are in Union County, New Jersey?

Union County contains 18 Census-designated places.