City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Union, NJ

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.

3,284
Residents
$127,411
Median income
$451,500
Median home
$2,205
Median rent (state)

Union - the verdict

Nationally, Union sits in the 89th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

89th
percentile, household income
81st
percentile, home value
86th
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, NJ

New Jersey's Union is a small town, with 3,284 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $127,411 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 11.3%. Typical homes in Union are valued around $451,500, and the median resident age is 47.0 years. About 34.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 65.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 10 public schools according to NCES Common Core of 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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,205 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Jersey run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 95.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

3,284 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$127,411 /yr

Poverty 11.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey 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 89% higher than other cities
Home value 81% pricier than other cities
Median rent 86% 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 New Jersey, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

89thIncome percentile

89th 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+)

$451,500 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%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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, NJ Union, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Union, 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, NJ median $127,411/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, 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, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 34.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.1%

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

Population
3,284
Median Income
$127,411
Median Home Value
$451,500
Median Age
47.0
Poverty Rate
11.3%
Labor force participation
65.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
34.9%

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.8%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
7.0%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
3.6%
Other
2.0%

Based on 1,938 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 sits in

Cost of Living Index
108.8
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,205/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Jersey

Port Monmouth
3,285 people
Rio Grande
3,285 people
Hamburg
3,293 people
Haworth
3,321 people
Leisuretowne
3,244 people
Saddle River
3,358 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Union's 3,284 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lanai, HI
3,283 people
Warrensburg, NY
3,285 people
Union Springs, AL
3,287 people
Paris, AR
3,287 people
Barton Creek, TX
3,281 people
Ridgecrest, FL
3,288 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Union's $127,411 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Valley Stream, NY
$127,426 median income
Buchanan, NY
$127,375 median income
St. John, IN
$127,449 median income
Lake Shore, MD
$127,453 median income
El Cerrito, CA
$127,475 median income
West Bountiful, UT
$127,344 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Union, 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, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 11.8% 50.5% 10.3% 15.8% 11.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20.7% White 11.8% Black or African American 50.5% Asian 10.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 15.8% Two or more races 11.5% 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 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 (this city) 3,284 $127,411
Port Monmouth 3,285 $106,677
Rio Grande 3,285 $97,590
Hamburg 3,293 $90,655
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Union, NJ?

What is the population of Union, NJ? +

Union, NJ has a population of 3,284 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Union households earn a median of $127,411 annually, 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 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, NJ? +

The median home value in Union is $451,500, 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.