City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Union, KY

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.

7,494
Residents
$139,013
Median income
$382,900
Median home
$1,353
Median rent (state)

Union - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Union lands in the 92nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

92nd
percentile, household income
76th
percentile, home value
50th
percentile, median rent
📝 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, KY

7,494 people live in Union, Kentucky - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Union brings in $139,013 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.9%. Typical homes in Union are valued around $382,900, and the median resident age is 38.5 years. 59.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 70.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 7 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Kentucky at 90.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,353 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Kentucky's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). Commute times here average 22.0 minutes, with 70.1% driving alone and 17.6% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 74.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

7,494 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$139,013 /yr

Poverty 2.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Union compare to other US cities?

Union measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 92% higher than other cities
Home value 76% pricier than other cities
Median rent 50% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Union's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Kentucky, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

92ndIncome percentile

92nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Union's home value compares nationally

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

$382,900 24th percentile more affordable than 24% 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%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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, KY Union, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Union, KY-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, KY median $139,013/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, KY'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, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 59.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.5%

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

Population
7,494
Median Income
$139,013
Median Home Value
$382,900
Median Age
38.5
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Labor force participation
70.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
59.4%

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,400 residents7,600 residents7,800 residents8,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,451 residents 7,937 residents ▲ +6.5%
Union's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
22.0 minutes
Drive Alone
70.1%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
17.6%
Other
2.6%

Based on 3,915 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,353/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
74.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Mount Sterling
7,549 people
Pikeville
7,560 people
London
7,576 people
Villa Hills
7,378 people
Flatwoods
7,281 people
Russellville
7,244 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Union's 7,494 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

North Riverside, IL
7,495 people
Knoxville, IA
7,493 people
Meraux, LA
7,492 people
New London, WI
7,492 people
Breaux Bridge, LA
7,497 people
Tell City, IN
7,490 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Union's $139,013 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Grill, PA
$139,006 median income
Pecan Acres, TX
$138,977 median income
Ramtown, NJ
$138,967 median income
Deer Park, NY
$138,950 median income
Asharoken, NY
$139,094 median income
Holbrook, NY
$139,116 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Union, KY 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, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.2% White 92.7% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.1% Two or more races 5.8% 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 Kentucky 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) 7,494 $139,013
Mount Sterling 7,549 $50,843
Pikeville 7,560 $39,216
London 7,576 $45,850
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Union, KY?

What is the population of Union, KY? +

Union, KY has a population of 7,494 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Union is $139,013 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 Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

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

Homes in Union carry a median value of $382,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.