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Living in
Union City.
About
Life in Union City
Union City offers a stable, affluent suburban lifestyle in the Bay Area, though it's not a destination community—it's a place where people actually live and work. With a median household income around $134,000 and home values near $1 million, this is an expensive market, but the area feels more grounded than flashier Bay Area neighborhoods. Jobs are available locally through healthcare facilities, industrial companies, and retail operations, but most residents will likely commute to Oakland, San Francisco, or San Jose for work—expect about 33 minutes each way.
Union City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Foreign-Born
48.7%
Broadband Internet
95.1%
of households
Population Growth
-6.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics48.7% foreign-born, most often from Philippines
Who lives in Union City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Union City, the largest foreign-born group is from Philippines (25.1%), and 15.2% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
17.0%
of residents
65 and Older
19.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.6%
of households
Married Couples
61.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.13
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 33% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Union City
In Union City, rent runs 33% above the CA average, and home values are 50% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,217
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
64.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,195,668 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Union City
Unemployment in Union City is 0.9 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Union City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute31.9 min avg
How Union City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Union City, most residents drive alone to work (60%), and 45% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 19 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 38% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Union City runs 38% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
453.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,825.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Union City Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Alameda County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Alameda County, which includes Union City, the most common type is flood, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 16 | Flood | $140 |
| 2023 | 16 | High Wind | $30 |
| 2022 | 13 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 18 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 36 | Flood | None reported |
| 2018 | 21 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
289 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Alameda County, county-wide
Union City is about 4% of Alameda County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality49 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Alameda County, which includes Union City, is typically good — 194 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
49
Good Days
194
per year
Moderate Days
171
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Alameda County, county-wide
Union City is about 4% of Alameda County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate77°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Union City has mild summers (avg high 77°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
77°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
3
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
60
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 43°F | 3.00" |
| Feb | 61°F | 44°F | 3.17" |
| Mar | 65°F | 46°F | 2.52" |
| Apr | 68°F | 48°F | 1.22" |
| May | 71°F | 52°F | 0.50" |
| Jun | 75°F | 55°F | 0.16" |
| Jul | 78°F | 57°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 0.10" |
| Oct | 73°F | 52°F | 0.69" |
| Nov | 65°F | 46°F | 1.59" |
| Dec | 58°F | 43°F | 2.97" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Union City
Uninsured
2.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Union City's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Washington Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Fremont
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Fremont
St Rose Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.5 mi away · Hayward
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Union City
Union City's student/teacher ratio is 23.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 45.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
45.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Union City (within 15 miles)
California State University-East Bay
4.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,809 students · in-state tuition $7,993 · 69% graduate · median earnings $73,868 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,554 students · in-state tuition $68,544 · 96% graduate · median earnings $125,340 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,299 students · in-state tuition $1,348 · 30% graduate · median earnings $57,379 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,099 students · in-state tuition $1,202 · 28% graduate · median earnings $61,853 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,784 students · in-state tuition $1,438 · 22% graduate · median earnings $56,661 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 455 students · in-state tuition $22,480 · 44% graduate · median earnings $59,124 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Union City
Union City has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
26 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
27 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
27 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
28 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
28 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
29 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
31 mi awayPublic Libraries in Union City
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City
Cities Near Union City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Union City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Union City FAQ
Is Union City, California affordable?⌄
Union City's median rent is $2,713/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $133,715/year. Median home value is $1,104,900.
Is Union City, California safe?⌄
Union City's violent crime rate was 453 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1826 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Union City, California?⌄
Union City has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Union City, California?⌄
The cost of living in Union City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,713/month and median household income is $133,715/year. The median home value is $1,104,900. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Union City, California?⌄
The average commute in Union City is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from