Cost of Living in Union County, Tennessee
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 #1,135 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 36%)
Sourced county brief
Union County Median Gross Rent Percentage Is 31.4 Percent
Official ACS B25071 GRAPI for Union County is 31.4%, which is 4.5 percentage points above the Tennessee unweighted county mean of 26.9%. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $847 per month, while the state unweighted county mean is $893. The median home value is $204,000, compared to the Tennessee unweighted county mean of $223,385. Selected monthly owner costs were $710, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $788. Median income for renter households was $33,868. These snapshots are based on the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. 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 31.4% of renter household income in Union County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. 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 $710. 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 Tennessee unweighted mean of county median rents is $893 per month. Union County's $847 median is 5.1% 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
16.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,464
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.6%
of gross income
The median home in Union County may be a stretch
Median home value is $204,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,629 vs. your max of $1,464.
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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