Union County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Union County, Tennessee has a population of 20,431, the 66th most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $62,727 and the median home value is $204,000. The poverty rate is 13.8%.

Union County Quick Facts

Population 20,431

Median Household Income $62,72790% MOE ±$3,883

Median Home Value $204,00090% MOE ±$15,444

Poverty Rate 13.8%90% MOE ±2.5 pts

Unemployment Rate 2.6%90% MOE ±1.2 pts

Median Age 42.7 years90% MOE ±0.7 years

Homeownership Rate 80.2%90% MOE ±3.3 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 14.2%90% MOE ±2.6 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 85.9%

Cities/Places 3

Population 20,431 66th of 95

Median Income $62,727 10% lower than state

Poverty Rate 13.8%

Unemployment 2.6%

How Union County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	19,488	20,431	+4.8%
Median household income	$54,977	$62,727	+14.1%
Median home value¹	$153,469	$204,000	+32.9%
Median gross rent	$843	$847	No clear change (+0.5%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Union

$62,727

$69,595

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Union

$204,000

$286,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.2%

$25K-$50K 21.3%

$50K-$100K 31.6%

$100K+ 25.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.5%

$10K-$15K

4.3%

$15K-$20K

8.0%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

2.8%

$30K-$35K

5.4%

$35K-$40K

4.2%

$40K-$45K

4.4%

$45K-$50K

4.5%

$50K-$60K

4.5%

$60K-$75K

11.6%

$75K-$100K

15.5%

$100K-$125K

8.1%

$125K-$150K

6.4%

$150K-$200K

7.1%

$200K+

4.3%

Employment

2.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

55.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 80.2%

Renter 19.8%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $847/mo 16.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.3%

18-34

19.0%

35-54

25.2%

55-74

27.5%

75+

7.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Union County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Maynardville	2,528	$46,106	21.7%	$205,400
Plainview	2,458	$63,965	10.7%	$168,500
Luttrell	1,158	$41,742	22.0%	$154,000

Explore Tennessee 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 Tennessee with a total population of 20,431. It is the 66th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Union County is 42.7 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Union County is $62,727. This is 10% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 22% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.8%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 44% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $204,000. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 80.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Union County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.4%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.9%.

Education

14.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.9%.

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 Tennessee 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, Tennessee?

Union County has a population of 20,431, making it the 66th most populous county in Tennessee.

What is the median income in Union County?

The median household income in Union County is $62,727 with a poverty rate of 13.8%.

How many cities are in Union County, Tennessee?

Union County contains 3 Census-designated places.