City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Union, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Union - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

753
Residents
$100,104
Median income
$224,600
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

Union - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Union places in the 78th percentile for household income and the 78th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

78th
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
72nd
percentile, median rent
78th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Union, IL

753 people live in Union, Illinois - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Union brings in $100,104 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.9%. Typical homes in Union are valued around $224,600, and the median resident age is 38.1 years. 15.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 74.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier. Union reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 655.7 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Illinois at 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,781 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Illinois run around $240, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 90.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

753 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$100,104 /yr

Poverty 3.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Union compare to other US cities?

Here's how Union stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 78% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% pricier than other cities
Safety 78% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Illinois and the picture shifts: Union ranks #153 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Union against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Union toward the top of Illinois's cities

Among the 1,315 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Union ranks #284 - the 78th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Union only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#219 of 1,311
83rd percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#17 of 1,336
77th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#284 of 1,315
78th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#939 of 1,335
29th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#784 of 1,336
41st percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

78thIncome percentile
78thSafety percentile

78th percentile nationally for median household income · 78th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Union's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Union's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 65 Avg. percentile National median
Union's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Union's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$224,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Union $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Union, IL Union, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Union, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Union, IL median $100,104/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Union, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Union, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 74.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
753
Median Income
$100,104
Median Home Value
$224,600
Median Age
38.1
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Labor force participation
74.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
655.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
655.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
500 residents550 residents600 residents650 residents700 residents750 residents 202020212022202320242025 550 residents 684 residents ▲ +24.4%
Union's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 0
2021 0
2022 22
2023 42
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.9%
Carpool
8.4%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
8.8%
Other
0.6%

Based on 467 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Union sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,781/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
90.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Junction City
753 people
Windsor
753 people
Golconda
755 people
Ashmore
750 people
Farmersville
756 people
Mound City
756 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Union's 753 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

West Concord, MN
753 people
Madrid, NY
753 people
Rock Island, OK
753 people
Fripp Island, SC
753 people
Jefferson, SC
753 people
Woonsocket, SD
753 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Union's $100,104 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Olinda, HI
$100,096 median income
Taconite, MN
$100,089 median income
Camano, WA
$100,124 median income
Mackinac Island, MI
$100,125 median income
Healdsburg, CA
$100,082 median income
Weymouth, MA
$100,077 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Union, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Union, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.3% White 91.8% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 5.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.5% Two or more races 0.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Union compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Union (this city) 753 $100,104
Junction City 753 $53,333
Windsor 753 $56,944
Golconda 755 $41,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Union, IL?

What is the population of Union, IL? +

753 people live in Union, IL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Union, IL? +

The median household income in Union is $100,104 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Union? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Union; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Union, IL safe? +

Union has a total crime rate of 655.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Union, IL? +

Union's median home value sits at $224,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.