Cost of Living in Union County, Oregon
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 #2,041 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 35%)
Sourced county brief
Union County Renter Median Income Estimated at $38,293
The median income for renter-occupied households in Union County is $38,293. The official GRAPI (median gross rent as a percentage of household income) for the county is 27.3%, which is 2.1 percentage points lower than the Oregon unweighted county mean of 29.4%. Median gross rent is $982 per month, while the state unweighted county mean is $1,191. For owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner costs are $932, below the state unweighted county mean of $1,215. The median home value in Union County is $294,600, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $386,692. These figures are snapshots from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. 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 27.3% 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 $982 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $932. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $39,280 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 Oregon unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,191 per month. Union County's $982 median is 17.5% 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
17.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,532
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.0%
of gross income
The median home in Union County may be a stretch
Median home value is $294,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,352 vs. your max of $1,532.
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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