Cost of Living in Union County, Illinois
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 #579 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 18%)
Sourced county brief
Union County Official Median GRAPI Reaches 28.8 Percent
Union County's official rentBurdenGrapiPct was recorded at 28.8% in the latest ACS 5-Year Estimates. This metric, representing the median gross rent as a percentage of household income for renters, is 2.7 percentage points above the Illinois unweighted county mean of 26.1%. The median gross rent for the county was $648 per month, which is below the unweighted state mean of $867. For owner-occupied units, the median home value was $131,700, while the state unweighted county mean was $153,020. Median selected monthly owner costs for all households were $758, compared to the $960 unweighted county mean for the state. In terms of income, the median household income was $55,728, and the median income specifically for renter households was $26,654. These figures serve as a statistical snapshot of the county's housing landscape from 2020 to 2024. 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 28.8% 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 $648 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $758. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $25,920 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 Illinois unweighted mean of county median rents is $867 per month. Union County's $648 median is 25.3% below 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
14.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,300
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Union County
Median home value is $131,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,051 vs. your max of $1,300.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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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
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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.
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