County · Tennessee
Union County, Tennessee
Union County, Tennessee. Union County had 21,450 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 8.3% since 2020, faster than Tennessee (+5.8%). It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 47173.
Union County is one of the 9 counties of the Knoxville, TN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
21,450
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 19,802 · ACS 2020-2024: 20,431
Median household income
$62,727
±$3,883 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$204,000
±$15,444 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$847
±$49 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
How many people live in Union County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 19,802 residents in Union County. The Census Bureau estimates 21,450 for July 1, 2025, up 8.3% since 2020, faster than Tennessee (+5.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 20,431 over 224 square miles of land.
| Measure | Union County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 20,431 | 7,066,383 | +943 |
| Households | 7,931±288 | 2,824,277 | +526 |
| Average household size | 2.56±0.09 | 2.45 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,831±29 | 3,143,670 | +450 |
Union County's population since 2000
From 17,808 in 2000 to 21,450 in 2025: up 20.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Union County?
Union County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Maynardville with 2,723 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Maynardville | 2,456 | $46,106 |
|---|---|---|
| Plainview | 2,060 | $63,965 |
| Luttrell | 1,017 | $41,742 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Union County?
The median resident of Union County is 42.7 years old; 21.3% are under 18 and 18.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.0%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.1%.
| Measure | Union County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7±0.7 | 38.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.3%±0.1 pts | 22.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.8%±0.3 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.4% | 7.4% | +0.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 94.0%±0.8 pts | 71.0% | −2.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 1.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1%±0.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.0%±0.7 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.1%±1.1 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 21.6%±2.6 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.1%±1.5 pts | 10.0% | −2.9 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.9%±2.2 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.2%±2.4 pts | 31.1% | +4.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.0%±1.2 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0%±0.9 pts | 3.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Union County earn?
Half of Union County's 7,931 households earn less than $62,727 a year (±$3,883), against $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 the median was $54,976 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $7,751 after inflation. 13.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Union County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $62,727±$3,883 | $69,595 | +$7,751 |
| Mean household income | $75,767±$6,187 | $96,820 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,443±$2,132 | $39,437 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.8%±2.5 pts | 13.8% | −8.2 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.6%±4.2 pts | 18.8% | −16.8 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.8%±2.6 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.3%±3.2 pts | 89.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Union County?
Owners occupy 80.2% of Union County's occupied homes and renters 19.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $204,000 by its owner (±$15,444). The median renter pays $847 a month including utilities, and 43.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Union County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $204,000±$15,444 | $286,700 | +$50,532 |
| Median gross rent | $847±$49 | $1,189 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.1%±12.1 pts | 39.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,179±$63 | $1,566 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.2%±3.6 pts | 66.9% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,831±29 | 3,143,670 | +450 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0%±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.8%±6.0 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.6%±3.2 pts | 68.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 21.8%±3.3 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.0%±1.0 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.2%±2.4 pts | 5.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Union County building?
Builders took permits for 154 new housing units across Union County in 2025 (154 single-family), 7.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Union County get to work?
74.1% of Union County's workers drive alone and 11.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 34.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.6%.
| Measure | Union County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.3%±2.9 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6%±1.2 pts | 4.7% | −5.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 74.1%±3.7 pts | 75.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.7%±3.0 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.4%±1.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 2.9%±2.0 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.5%±2.3 pts | 12.9% | +5.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.6 min±2.4 | 25.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Union County's census tracts?
Union County is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $53,674 (Tract 402.01) to $73,929 (Tract 403).
| Tract 401.0147173040101 | 4,314±461 | $61,607 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 401.0247173040102 | 2,925±405 | $67,694 |
| Tract 402.0147173040201 | 4,383±353 | $53,674 |
| Tract 402.0247173040202 | 5,909±689 | $64,988 |
| Tract 40347173040300 | 2,900±498 | $73,929 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Union County compare with Tennessee's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 66th of 95 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 23rd of 95 |
| Residents per square mile | 39th of 95 |
| Median household income | 34th of 95 |
| Median home value | 49th of 95 |
| Median gross rent | 43rd of 95 |
| Poverty rate | 62nd of 95 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 73rd of 95 |
| Median age | 46th of 95 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Union County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.