Cost of Living in Union County, North Carolina
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 #2,889 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 8%)
Sourced county brief
Union County Median Home Value Reaches $417,300 in ACS Estimates
In Union County, North Carolina, the median home value was estimated at $417,300, a figure that is $181,988 above the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $235,312. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,514, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $927 by $587. For those in rental housing, the median gross rent was $1,496 per month, while the state unweighted county mean was $977. According to official ACS table B25071, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 26.7%. This official GRAPI figure is 2.2 percentage points lower than the North Carolina unweighted county mean of 28.9%. The median renter-household income for the period was $65,360. These statistics are based on the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates and provide a snapshot of housing costs for different tenure groups within the county. 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 26.7% 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 $1,496 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,514. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $59,840 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 North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Union County's $1,496 median is 53.2% 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
17.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,401
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.7%
of gross income
The median home in Union County may be a stretch
Median home value is $417,300. Estimated monthly cost: $3,331 vs. your max of $2,401.
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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