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Union County, Oregon Demographics 2026

Union County, Oregon has a population of 26,144, the 24th most populous county in Oregon. The median household income is $65,661 and the median home value is $294,600. The poverty rate is 16.1%.

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

Union County Quick Facts

Population 26,144
Median Household Income $65,661
Median Home Value $294,600
Poverty Rate 16.1%
Unemployment Rate 5.7%
Median Age 40.0 years
Homeownership Rate 65.5%
Affordability Ratio 4.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 26.1%
High School Graduation 93.5%
Cities/Places 8
Population 26,144 24th of 36
Median Income $65,661 21% lower than state
Poverty Rate 16.1%
Unemployment 5.7%

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
Population26,19226,144-0.2%
Median household income$64,212$65,661+2.3%
Median home value$260,500$294,600+13.1%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.4%
$25K-$50K 21.1%
$50K-$100K 29.2%
$100K+ 31.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.0%
$10K-$15K
4.7%
$15K-$20K
4.6%
$20K-$25K
3.0%
$25K-$30K
2.8%
$30K-$35K
4.9%
$35K-$40K
4.5%
$40K-$45K
5.0%
$45K-$50K
3.9%
$50K-$60K
7.1%
$60K-$75K
9.2%
$75K-$100K
12.9%
$100K-$125K
10.7%
$125K-$150K
6.9%
$150K-$200K
7.3%
$200K+
6.4%

Employment

5.7% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%
59.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 65.5%
Renter 34.5%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $982/mo 17.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

26out of 100
Low Diversity

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

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Union County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
La Grande13,058$58,42720.9%$278,700
Union2,290$65,04718.9%$231,400
Elgin1,549$57,75010.4%$191,300
Island City1,145$66,56314.0%$295,100
Cove651$82,50012.8%$328,000
North Powder563$52,27310.5%$142,200
Imbler189$66,25027.5%$275,000
Summerville106$120,4173.9%$275,000

Population Overview

Union County is located in Oregon with a total population of 26,144. It is the 24th most populous county out of 36 in Oregon. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Union County is 40.0 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Union County is $65,661. This is 21% lower than the state median of $83,011. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.1%. This is 35% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $294,600. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $477,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.5x. 65.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 63.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Union County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.5%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 14.7%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.

Education

26.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 36.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.5%.

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 Oregon 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, Oregon?

Union County has a population of 26,144, making it the 24th most populous county in Oregon.

What is the median income in Union County?

The median household income in Union County is $65,661 with a poverty rate of 16.1%.

How many cities are in Union County, Oregon?

Union County contains 8 Census-designated places.