Union County, North Carolina
Among the top 20% of US counties for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 21% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 24% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 13% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 61% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 80% of US counties
- top 3% for broadband access
- top 7% for airport distance
- bottom 4% for cost of living
Union County is a county in North Carolina with about 240,000 residents. It grades B+ for lifestyle & connectivity and D for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include broadband access, airport distance, and annual snowfall. It rates lower on school quality and cost of living.
Official websiteco.union.nc.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Moderate rain · Light snow
cold
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comf.
warm
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61%49%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.3 in3.4 in
muggy 89%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$96k95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$64kbetter than 4% of US counties
Home Value$337k91st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 9% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 13% of US counties
Property Tax Rate0.65%better than 70% of US counties
Income Tax4.50%better than 62% of US counties
Sales Tax7.00%better than 61% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden9.11%better than 58% of US counties
Unemployment4.3%better than 60% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)42°F73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)80°F67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation45.3 in55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall2.1 inbetter than 71% of US counties
Sunny Days187 daysbetter than 9% of US counties
Summer Humidity68°Fbetter than 35% of US counties
Comfortable Days81 daysbetter than 54% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk89.1better than 11% of US counties
Air Quality43 AQIbetter than 49% of US counties
School Quality32.9better than 5% of US counties
Violent Crime1042/100kbetter than 33% of US counties
Property Crime1341/100kbetter than 30% of US counties
Community
Population240,10991st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.927th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4370th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9940th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2535th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)69.7%34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)11.1%78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)11.8%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.8%92nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.7%57th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time30 minbetter than 19% of US counties
Walkability6.3/20better than 58% of US counties
Airport Distance26 mibetter than 93% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access93.0%better than 97% of US counties
Amenities Nearby1.08better than 38% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 67% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Union County an affordable place to live?
- Union County is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $64k, better than 4% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Union County?
- The median home value in Union County is $337k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Union County?
- Median household income in Union County is $96k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Union County?
- Median gross rent in Union County is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Union County safe?
- Union County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1042/100k (better than 33%). Property crime is 1341/100k.
- What is the weather like in Union County?
- Union County averages 80°F in July and 42°F in January, with 45.3 in of annual precipitation and about 187 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Union County?
- Public-school quality in Union County is below average, scoring better than 5% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Union County?
- The average one-way commute in Union County is 30 min.
Other counties in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)