Union County, IA

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Population

12,497

0.335% decline

Median Age

40.1


Median Household Income

$47,597

3.62% growth

Poverty Rate

13.8%


Number of Employees

6,205

2.88% decline

Median Property Value

$94,300

7.04% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2017, Union County, IA had a population of 12.5k people with a median age of 40.1 and a median household income of $47,597. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Union County, IA declined from 12,539 to 12,497, a -0.335% decrease and its median household income grew from $45,934 to $47,597, a 3.62% increase.

The population of Union County, IA is 94.5% White Alone, 2.78% Hispanic or Latino, and 1.19% Black or African American Alone. N/A% of the people in Union County, IA speak a non-English language, and 98.9% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Union County, IA are Southwestern Community College (430 degrees awarded in 2017).

The median property value in Union County, IA is $94,300, and the homeownership rate is 70.7%. Most people in Union County, IA commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 16.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Union County, IA is 2 cars per household.

Photo by Jason Mrachina

United StatesIowa

Economy

The economy of Union County, IA employs 6.21k people. The largest industries in Union County, IA are Manufacturing (1,588 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (974 people), and Retail Trade (713 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($83,125), Finance & Insurance ($71,250), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($60,625).

Median household income in Union County, IA is $47,597. Males in Union County, IA have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $44,006. The income inequality in Union County, IA (measured using the Gini index) is 0.443, which is lower than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$47,597

2017 value

± $2,912

3.62%

1 Year Growth

± 8.21%

Households in Union County, IA have a median annual income of $47,597, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $45,934 in 2016, which represents a 3.62% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Union County, IA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

$58,922

Average Male Salary

± $1,635

$44,006

Average Female Salary

± $1,197

In 2017, full-time male employees in Iowa made 1.34 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Iowa by number of full-time employees.

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Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $50,374 ± $7,648

  2. White

    $44,731 ± $967

  3. Black

    $32,234 ± $4,518

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Iowa workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.13 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Iowa by number of full-time employees.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Union County, IA is from Iowa.

0.443

2017 Wage GINI

0.445

2016 Wage GINI

In 2017, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.443 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.563% decline from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even.

The 2017 the GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Iowa in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Iowa across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Income by Location

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Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 1903

  2. Census Tract 1904

  3. Census Tract 1901

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Union County, IA was Census Tract 1903 with a value of $70,905, followed by Census Tract 1904 and Census Tract 1901, with respective values of $48,909 and $47,404.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Union County, IA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

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Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 18 - 24

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

13.8% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Union County, IA (1.68k out of 12.2k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 6 - 11 and then Males 18 - 24.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    1,617 ± 235

  2. Hispanic

    55 ± 83

  3. Black

    34 ± 84

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Union County, IA is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Occupations

Employment by Occupations

6.21k

2017 Value

± 408

-2.88%

1 Year decline

± 9.54%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Union County, IA declined at a rate of -2.88%, from 6.39k employees to 6.21k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Union County, IA, are Production Occupations (1,091 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (770 people), and Management Occupations (484 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Union County, IA.

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Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Union County, IA, by number of employees, are Production Occupations (1,091 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (770 people), and Management Occupations (484 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Union County, IA has an unusually high number of residents working as Production Occupations (3.03 times higher than expected), Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (2.31 times), and Transportation Occupations (1.79 times).

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Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Union County, IA, by median earnings, are Business & Financial Operations Occupations ($74,911), Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($70,398), and Computer & Mathematical Occupations ($60,526).

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Industries

Employment by Industries

6.21k

2017 Value

± 408

-2.88%

1 Year decline

± 9.54%

From 2016 to 2017, employment in Union County, IA declined at a rate of -2.88%, from 6.39k employees to 6.21k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Union County, IA, are Manufacturing (1,588 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (974 people), and Retail Trade (713 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Union County, IA, though some of these residents may live in Union County, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Most Common

The most common industries in Union County, IA, by number of employees, are Manufacturing (1,588 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (974 people), and Retail Trade (713 people).

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Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Union County, IA has an unusually high number of Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (4.5 times higher than expected), Manufacturing (2.53 times), and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation (1.38 times) industries.

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Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Union County, IA, by median earnings, are Utilities ($83,125), Finance & Insurance ($71,250), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($60,625).

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Iowa to other states, or from other states to Iowa.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Cereal grains

    $24.8B

  2. Machinery

    $20.9B

  3. Other ag prods.

    $18.7B

In 2015, the top outbound Iowa product (by dollars) was Cereal grains with $24.8B, followed by Machinery ($20.9B) and Other ag prods. ($18.7B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Iowa products.

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Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Iowa state.

$265B

2020 Value

$363B

Projected 2045 Value

36.7% growth

In 2020, total outbound Iowa trade was $265B. This is expected to increase 36.7% to $363B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Iowa trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

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Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Iowa to other states, or from other states to Iowa.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. Illinois

    $28.9B

  2. Minnesota

    $17.7B

  3. Nebraska

    $12.5B

In 2015, the top outbound Iowa domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Illinois with $28.9B, followed by Minnesota with $17.7B and Nebraska and $12.5B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Iowa shares with each state (excluding itself).

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Health

92.4% of the population of Union County, IA has health coverage, with 43.7% on employee plans, 16.7% on Medicaid, 15% on Medicare, 15.5% on non-group plans, and 1.5% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Union County, IA was $8,200 in 2014. This is a 5.05% increase from the previous year ($7,806).

Primary care physicians in Union County, IA see 1559 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.32% decrease from the previous year (1564 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 2484 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 690 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Appanoose County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (13.3%). Additionally, Union County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (39.4%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,559 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Union County, IA see an average of 1,559 patients per year. This represents a 0.32% decrease from the previous year (1,564 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Union County, IA in comparison to neighboring states.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

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Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

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Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

$8,200

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$4,076

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$6,702

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$9,317

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Iowa (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 5.05%, from $7,806 to $8,200.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

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Health Care Coverage

7.58%

Uninsured

43.7%

Employer Coverage

16.7%

Medicaid

15%

Medicare

15.5%

Non-Group

1.5%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Union County, IA declined by 7.55% from 8.2% to 7.58%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Union County, IA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Appanoose County

    13.3% prevalence

  2. Crawford County

    12.6% prevalence

  3. Harrison County

    12.1% prevalence

Appanoose County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Iowa, at 13.3%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in Iowa by county over multiple years.

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Diversity

Union County, IA is home to a population of 12.5k people, from which 98.9% are citizens. As of 2017, 2.14% of Union County, IA residents were born outside of the country (267 people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Union County, IA is composed of 11.8k White Alone residents (94.5%), 347 Hispanic or Latino residents (2.78%), 149 Black or African American Alone residents (1.19%), 82 Asian Alone residents (0.656%), 71 Two or More Races residents (0.568%), 34 American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (0.272%), 8 Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0.064%), and 0 Some Other Race Alone residents (0%).

Age

Age by Nativity

40

Median Native-Born Age

± 1

36

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 6.3

In 2017, the median age of all people in Union County, IA was 40.1. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 40, were generally older than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 36. But people in Union County, IA are getting getting younger. In 2016, the average age of all Union County, IA residents was 40.

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Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

2.14%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

267 people

1.83%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

230 people

As of 2017, 2.14% of Union County, IA residents (267 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Union County, IA was 1.83%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Union County, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    41,844 ± 4,988 people

  2. China

    10,526 ± 2,515 people

  3. India

    10,455 ± 2,506 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 41,844 Iowa residents, followed by China with 10,526 and India with 10,455.

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Citizenship

98.9%

2017 Citizenship

99.1%

2016 Citizenship

As of 2017, 98.9% of Union County, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2016, the percentage of US citizens in Union County, IA was 99.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Union County, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    11.8k ± 15

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    347 ± 53.1

  3. Black or African American Alone

    149 ± 62

In 2017, there were 34 times more White Alone residents (11.8k people) in Union County, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 347 Hispanic or Latino and 149 Black or African American Alone residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Union County, IA as a share of the total population.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Vietnam

    336 ± 68

  2. Gulf War (2001-)

    100 ± 63

  3. Gulf War (1990s)

    95 ± 45

Union County, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 3.36 times greater than any other conflict.

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Education

In 2017, universities in Union County, IA awarded 430 degrees. The student population of Union County, IA is skewed towards women, with 679 male students and 895 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Union County, IA are White (349 and 82.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (41 and 9.72%), Black or African American (15 and 3.55%), and Two or More Races (11 and 2.61%).

The largest universities in Union County, IA by number of degrees awarded are Southwestern Community College (430 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Union County, IA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (129 and 30%), Welding Technology (59 and 13.7%), and Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (42 and 9.77%).

The median tuition costs in Union County, IA are $N/A for private four year colleges, and $N/A and $N/A respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. Liberal Arts & Sciences

    129 degrees awarded

  2. Registered Nursing

    26 degrees awarded

  3. General Business Administration & Management

    15 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Union County, IA was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 129 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Union County, IA according to their major.

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Universities

Southwestern Community College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

430 degrees awarded

$N/A

Median In-State Public

$N/A

Median Private

In 2017, the Union County, IA institution with the largest number of graduating students was Southwestern Community College with 430 degrees awarded.

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Student Gender for Common Institutions

250

Degrees Awarded to Men

180

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 250 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Union County, IA, which is 1.39 times more than the 180 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the institutions in Union County, IA by degrees awarded.

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Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    349 degrees awarded

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    41 degrees awarded

  3. Black or African American

    15 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Union County, IA were to White students. These 349 degrees mean that there were 8.51 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 41 degrees awarded.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Union County, IA was $94,300 in 2017, which is 0.411 times smaller than the national average of $229,700. Between 2016 and 2017 the median property value increased from $88,100 to $94,300, a 7.04% increase. The homeownership rate in Union County, IA is 70.7%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Union County, IA have an average commute time of 16.8 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Union County, IA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$94,300

2017 Median

± $4,817

$88,100

2016 Median

± $4,679

In 2017, the median property value in Union County, IA grew to to $94,300 from the previous year's value of $88,100.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Union County, IA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Union County, IA the largest share of households have a property value in the $100k - $125k range.

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Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$47,597

Median Household Income

± $2,912

5.31k

Number of Households

± 372

In 2017, the median household income of the 5.31k households in Union County, IA grew to $47,597 from the previous year's value of $45,934.

The following chart displays the households in Union County, IA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

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Property Taxes

$800 - $1,499

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Union County, IA distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Union County, IA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

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Rent vs Own

70.7%

2017 Homeownership

70.8%

2016 Homeownership

In 2017, 70.7% of the housing units in Union County, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 70.8%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Union County, IA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Commute Time

16.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Union County, IA have a shorter commute time (16.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.1 minutes). Additionally, 2.39% of the workforce in Union County, IA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Union County, IA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    79.9%

  2. Carpooled

    10.3%

  3. Walked

    4.72%

In 2017, the most common method of travel for workers in Union County, IA was Drove Alone (79.9%), followed by those who Carpooled (10.3%) and those who Walked (4.72%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Union County, IA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Union County, IA have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.

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