City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Union City, NJ

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

66,375
Residents
$65,369
Median income
$446,800
Median home
$2,763
Median rent (state)

Union City - the verdict

Union City ranks in the 43rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

43rd
percentile, household income
81st
percentile, home value
96th
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 City, NJ

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 66,375 residents in Union City, a small city within New Jersey. The typical household in Union City brings in $65,369 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 16.6%. Typical homes in Union City are valued around $446,800, and the median resident age is 37.8 years. About 28.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 69 residential building permits were authorized in Union City (Growing), up 17% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

New Jersey carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 108.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,763 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New Jersey's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). The average commute for Union City workers runs 30.5 minutes, with 32.1% driving alone and 7.1% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 97.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

66,375 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$65,369 /yr

Poverty 16.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

How does Union City compare to other US cities?

Where Union City sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 81% pricier than other cities
Median rent 96% 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

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

New Jersey-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Union City's strongest outlier among New Jersey cities

Among the 686 New Jersey cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Union City ranks #1 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Union City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#594 of 659
10th percentile in New Jersey
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 686
97th percentile in New Jersey
Median Home Value
#271 of 672
60th percentile in New Jersey
Poverty Rate
#41 of 680
94th percentile in New Jersey
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#500 of 686
27th percentile in New Jersey

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 New Jersey only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

43rdIncome percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Union City's home value compares nationally

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

$446,800 19th percentile more affordable than 19% 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%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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 City $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 City, NJ Union City, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Union City, NJ-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 City, NJ median $65,369/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 City, NJ'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 City, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.4%

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

Population
66,375
Median Income
$65,369
Median Home Value
$446,800
Median Age
37.8
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Labor force participation
62.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.4%

Schools

Total Schools
14
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
64,000 residents65,000 residents66,000 residents67,000 residents68,000 residents69,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 68,112 residents 66,656 residents ▼ -2.1%
Union City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
69
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
67
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 59
2020 74
2021 110
2022 138
2023 74
2024 69

Permit volume increased 17% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
30.5 minutes
Drive Alone
32.1%
Carpool
10.0%
Public Transit
35.4%
Walk
11.4%
Work from Home
7.1%
Other
4.0%

Based on 32,460 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Jersey - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Jersey 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 New Jersey state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Union City sits in

Cost of Living Index
108.8
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,763/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Jersey

East Orange
69,183 people
Passaic
69,651 people
Lakewood
69,884 people
Bayonne
70,468 people
Camden
71,471 people
Vineland
60,692 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Union City's 66,375 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sammamish, WA
66,375 people
Queen Creek, AZ
66,369 people
Alpharetta, GA
66,355 people
Skokie, IL
66,427 people
Conway, AR
66,288 people
Oshkosh, WI
66,247 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Union City's $65,369 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Garland, UT
$65,369 median income
Eau Claire, WI
$65,369 median income
White, OR
$65,370 median income
Leetsdale, PA
$65,368 median income
Anita, IA
$65,375 median income
Wilson, OK
$65,375 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Union City, NJ 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 City, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 25.8% 35.7% 28.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 81.6% White 25.8% Black or African American 4.8% Asian 4.0% American Indian 1.7% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 35.7% Two or more races 28.0% 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 City compares to nearby New Jersey 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 City (this city) 66,375 $65,369
East Orange 69,183 $59,872
Passaic 69,651 $56,780
Lakewood 69,884 $57,576
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Union City, NJ?

What is the population of Union City, NJ? +

Union City, NJ counts 66,375 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Union City, NJ? +

Union City households earn a median of $65,369 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Union City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Union City; the closest available measure is the New Jersey state average, a cost of living index of 108.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Jersey vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Union City, NJ? +

The median home value in Union City is $446,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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