Union County, NC

County

2024 Population

250,958

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

US Senator

Ted Budd

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

39.2

0.256% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

7.68%

0.292% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$102,900

3.68% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$417,300

Population & Diversity

Union County, NC is home to a population of 251k people, from which 94% are citizens.

As of 2024, 12.1% of Union County, NC residents were born outside of the country (30.4k people).

In 2024, there were 6.14 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (168k people) in Union County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 27.3k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 14.4k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

94%

2024 Citizenship

94.2%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 94% of Union County, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Union County, NC was 94.2%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Union County, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
168k ± 611
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
27.3k ± 887
Other (Hispanic)
14.4k ± 1.4k

13.4%

Hispanic Population

33.6k people

13.4% of the people in Union County, NC are hispanic (33.6k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Union County, NC as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
228,441 ± 11,609 people
India
90,815 ± 7,367 people
Honduras
52,061 ± 5,588 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 228,441 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 90,815 and Honduras with 52,061.

Foreign-Born Population

12.1%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

30.4k people

11.5%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

28.1k people

As of 2024, 12.1% of Union County, NC residents (30.4k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Union County, NC was 11.5%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
3,283 ± 380
Gulf War (2001-)
3,005 ± 460
Gulf War (1990s)
2,661 ± 423

Union County, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.09 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Union County, NC.

Health

92.3% of the population of Union County, NC has health coverage, with 55.9% on employee plans, 10.3% on Medicaid, 10.6% on Medicare, 14.5% on non-group plans, and 1.1% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Union County, NC see 1,459 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,459 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 3153 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 678 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.7% were men and 50.3% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,459 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Union County, NC

Primary care physicians in Union County, NC see an average of 1,459 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,459 patients).

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

Location of Health Services Facilities

Health Service Type

Top 5 Health Facilities Servicing the Greatest Number of Addresses

Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4001
Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4002
Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4003
Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4004
Health Practice Name
12345 Community Center Dr., Hayward, CA 94540 Census Tract # 4005

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 27.5% under 18 years, 17.7% between 18 and 34 years, 41.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 13.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.7% were men and 50.3% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

7.68%

Uninsured

55.9%

Employer Coverage

10.3%

Medicaid

10.6%

Medicare

14.5%

Non-Group

1.1%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Union County, NC declined by 3.24% from 7.94% to 7.68%.

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

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the average number of mentally unhealthy days reported in past 30 days (age-adjusted) was 4.5 in Union County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Union County, NC.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 31.1% in Union County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Union County, NC.

Clinical Care

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance was 10.5% in Union County, NC.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Union County, NC.

Economy

The economy of Union County, NC employs 127k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Union County, NC were Retail Trade (14,542 people), Manufacturing (14,018 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (13,812 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($137,708), Finance & Insurance ($112,786), and Utilities ($110,714).

Employment

Occupations

127k

2024 Value

± 2,893

3.07%

1 Year growth

± 3.21%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Union County, NC grew at a rate of 3.07%, from 123k employees to 127k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Union County, NC, are Management Occupations (19,273 people), Sales & Related Occupations (12,862 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (12,199 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Union County, NC.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

127k

2024 Value

± 2,893

3.07%

1 Year growth

± 3.21%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Union County, NC grew at a rate of 3.07%, from 123k employees to 127k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Union County, NC, are Retail Trade (14,542 people), Manufacturing (14,018 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (13,812 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Union County, NC, though some of these residents may live in Union County, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$61,560

Median earning men ± $1,305

$43,168

Median earning women ± $2,128

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($134,193), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($93,936), and Information ($86,195).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($85,216), Public Administration ($59,318), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($57,885).

Employment by Industry Sector

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

Y-Axis

3.04%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 4.86M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 3.04% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

653
Construction
533
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
343
Other Services (except Public Administration)

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$652k
Manufacturing
$647k
Construction
$368k
Health Care and Social Assistance

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Education

The student population of Union County, NC in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 1,341 male students and 2,117 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Union County, NC are White (467 and 58.7%), Black or African American (163 and 20.5%), Hispanic or Latino (53 and 6.67%), and Two or More Races (49 and 6.16%).

The largest universities in Union County, NC by number of degrees awarded are Wingate University (825 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Union County, NC are Pharmacy (81 and 9.82%), Sport & Fitness Management (77 and 9.33%), and General Business Administration & Management (68 and 8.24%).

The median tuition cost for private four year colleges is $42,256.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2024 in Union County, NC, the percentage of applicants admitted was 91.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 2.82%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 3,458 (38.8% men and 61.2% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 3,458 students enrolled in Union County, NC, 38.8% men and 61.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 1,549 records, of which 65.8% were women and 34.2% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Psychology
63 degrees awarded
General Biological Sciences
56 degrees awarded
Kinesiology & Exercise Science
50 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Union County, NC was General Psychology with 63 degrees awarded.

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

Universities

Gender

Race

Wingate University

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

825 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Wingate University with 825 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 269 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Union County, NC, which is 0.484 times less than the 556 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 467 degrees mean that there were 2.87 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 163 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($42,256) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($320) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($2,250) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Union County, NC was $417,300 in 2024, which is 1.25 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $374,400 to $417,300, a 11.5% increase. The homeownership rate in Union County, NC is 81.6%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Union County, NC have an average commute time of 29.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Union County, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 10.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Union County, NC. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.95%.

Housing

Property

$417,300

Median Property Value 2024

±$6,990

$68,778

Median Property Taxes

±$2,100

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Union County, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Union County, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

81.6%

Homeownership

2024

67.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 81.6% of the housing units in Union County, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 81.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Union County, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

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

$102,900

Median Household Income

± $1,953

84.2k

Number of Households

± 2,250

In 2024, the median household income of the 84.2k households in Union County, NC grew to $102,900 from the previous year's value of $99,243.

The following chart displays the households in Union County, NC 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 $200k+ range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Union County, NC is from North Carolina.

0.466

2024 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.467

2023 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2024, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.16% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

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

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (69.6%)
Worked At Home (19.5%)
Carpooled (8.9%)

In 2024, 69.6% of workers in Union County, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (19.5%) and those who carpooled to work (8.9%).

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.

Commute Time

29.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Union County, NC have a longer commute time (29.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.23% of the workforce in Union County, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 10.1% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Union County, NC. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.95%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

7.68% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Union County, NC (19k out of 248k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 35 - 44, followed by Females 6 - 11 and then Males 6 - 11.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Union County, NC 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.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 10.2% of the children was living in poverty in Union County, NC. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 5.4%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798, followed by New York (5,087).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 188 in Union County, NC. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 22.4% per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

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