Union County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

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

Union County, North Carolina has a population of 250,958, the 8th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $102,900 and the median home value is $417,300. The poverty rate is 7.7%.

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

Union County Quick Facts

Population 250,958

Median Household Income $102,900

Median Home Value $417,300

Poverty Rate 7.7%

Unemployment Rate 4.2%

Median Age 39.2 years

Homeownership Rate 81.7%

Affordability Ratio 4.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 40.5%

High School Graduation 90.9%

Cities/Places 13

Population 250,958 8th of 100

Median Income $102,900 42% higher than state

Poverty Rate 7.7%

Unemployment 4.2%

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	244,975	250,958	+2.4%
Median household income	$99,243	$102,900	+3.7%
Median home value	$374,400	$417,300	+11.5%

Median Household Income

Union

$102,900

$72,388

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Union

$417,300

$288,900

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 8.7%

$25K-$50K 13.2%

$50K-$100K 26.1%

$100K+ 52.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.0%

$10K-$15K

1.6%

$15K-$20K

2.0%

$20K-$25K

2.2%

$25K-$30K

2.1%

$30K-$35K

2.9%

$35K-$40K

2.4%

$40K-$45K

2.6%

$45K-$50K

3.0%

$50K-$60K

5.2%

$60K-$75K

7.8%

$75K-$100K

13.1%

$100K-$125K

11.4%

$125K-$150K

9.5%

$150K-$200K

12.0%

$200K+

19.1%

Employment

4.2% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

67.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.7%

Renter 18.4%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,496/mo 17.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

25.6%

18-34

19.5%

35-54

28.9%

55-74

20.8%

75+

5.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Union County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Indian Trail	42,036	$108,483	5.3%	$385,000
Monroe	36,759	$72,540	13.3%	$309,100
Waxhaw	22,275	$131,894	4.5%	$549,400
Wesley Chapel	9,090	$132,188	4.5%	$535,500
Unionville	6,954	$96,028	9.4%	$336,200
Marvin	6,692	$250,000+	7.6%	$906,000
Wingate	4,425	$63,068	17.0%	$229,800
Fairview	3,619	$98,808	1.8%	$382,300
Lake Park	3,431	$66,411	8.0%	$334,500
Mineral Springs	3,314	$91,500	4.2%	$389,900
Marshville	2,615	$57,837	14.7%	$172,300
Hemby Bridge	2,096	$71,688	19.8%	$298,400
JAARS	715	$65,777	27.8%	$9,999

Explore North Carolina 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 North Carolina with a total population of 250,958. It is the 8th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Union County is 39.2 years. This is about the same as the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Union County is $102,900. This is 42% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 27% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.7%. This is 41% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $417,300. Housing costs are 44% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 81.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Union County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.4%.

Education

40.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.9%.

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 North Carolina 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, North Carolina?

Union County has a population of 250,958, making it the 8th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Union County?

The median household income in Union County is $102,900 with a poverty rate of 7.7%.

How many cities are in Union County, North Carolina?

Union County contains 13 Census-designated places.