Cost of Living in Union County, Arkansas
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Union County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Union County ranks #1,222 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 39%)
Sourced county brief
Union County Renter Median Income Estimated at $33,418
The median income for renter households in Union County was $33,418 according to the 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. For this period, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income, or the canonical rentToIncomePct, was 27.4%. This figure is 1.0 percentage point lower than the Arkansas unweighted county mean of 28.4%. The median gross rent in the county was reported at $847 per month. Among owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was $737, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $663. The median home value was $120,900, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $141,465. These statistics represent a point-in-time analysis based on the American Community Survey. Data version acs5-2020-2024 and methodology version cost-brief-v1 were applied, with a last review date of 2026-07-10. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Union County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.4% of renter household income in Union County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $847 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $737. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,880 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Arkansas unweighted mean of county median rents is $774 per month. Union County's $847 median is 9.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Union County
Rent Burden
18.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,289
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Union County
Median home value is $120,900. Estimated monthly cost: $965 vs. your max of $1,289.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
$0/yr
Needed to stay within recommended threshold
Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Union County, Arkansas?
What is the median rent in Union County?
Is Union County affordable?
How does Union County's rent compare to the state average?
What is the median home value in Union County?
Counties with Similar Housing Costs
Planning a Move?
Researching the cost of living in Union County, Arkansas? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.
Compare Moving QuotesCompare Mortgage Rates in Union County
Whether you're buying in Union County, Arkansas, or refinancing, compare rates from top lenders using the terms each lender provides.
See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
CostByCounty participates in affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you use our links, at no extra cost to you.