Union, West Virginia Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 476, Union's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Union is a small community located in West Virginia, within Monroe County. The total population is 476. It ranks as the 240th most populous out of 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Union is 59.1 years. This is 38% higher than the state median of 42.7 years. Only 8.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 25.2% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Union is $35,000. This is 41% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 57% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.0%. This is 46% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Union, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $154,200. Housing costs are 5% lower than the state median of $162,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Union has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (5.0% vs 2.1%).

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 24.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Union, West Virginia is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against West Virginia state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 429 Census-designated places in West Virginia. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.