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Living in
Union.
About
Life in Union
Union is a community of 12,560 people in Missouri. The median household income is $73,435, median rent runs about $858 per month, and median home values are around $205,200. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Union at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Foreign-Born
1.4%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
+8.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.4% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Union: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Union, the largest foreign-born group is from India (29.6%), and 1.0% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
26.4%
of residents
65 and Older
12.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.3%
of households
Married Couples
41.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.51
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 17% below MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Union
In Union, rent runs 17% below the MO average, and home values are 11% below the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
23.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
5.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,739
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1996
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $256,703 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MO
Unemployment in Union
Unemployment in Franklin County, which includes Union, is close to the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Union: Franklin County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Franklin County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Union Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.2 min avg
How Union residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Union, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 40 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M 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 25% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Union runs 25% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
410.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,274.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Union Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Franklin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Franklin County, which includes Union, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Hail | $1.7M |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $112,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,000 |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | 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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Franklin County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 27 miles from Union) is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
93
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Jefferson County, MO (27 mi away)
Climate89°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Union has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.0"
Annual Snowfall
14.4"
Hot Days/Year
50
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
101
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
108
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 23°F | 2.72" |
| Feb | 48°F | 26°F | 2.45" |
| Mar | 59°F | 35°F | 3.87" |
| Apr | 70°F | 45°F | 4.99" |
| May | 78°F | 55°F | 4.85" |
| Jun | 86°F | 63°F | 4.24" |
| Jul | 91°F | 67°F | 4.74" |
| Aug | 89°F | 66°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 82°F | 57°F | 3.63" |
| Oct | 70°F | 46°F | 3.31" |
| Nov | 57°F | 35°F | 3.66" |
| Dec | 46°F | 27°F | 2.66" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Union
Uninsured
7.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Union's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercy Hospital Washington
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Washington
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.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Union
Union's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Union
Public · 2-year · 1,639 students · in-state tuition $4,392 · 36% graduate · median earnings $41,402 (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: Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, 36 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Union
Union has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (36 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
36 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
45 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
61 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
87 mi awayOzark National Scenic Riverways
National Scenic Riverways
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Union
Union Branch
251 Union Plaza Dr, Union
Cities Near Union
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Union?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Union FAQ
Is Union, Missouri affordable?⌄
Union's median rent is $858/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $73,435/year. Median home value is $205,200.
Is Union, Missouri safe?⌄
Union's violent crime rate was 410 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2275 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Union, Missouri?⌄
Franklin County, which includes Union, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Union, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Union is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $858/month and median household income is $73,435/year. The median home value is $205,200. About 24% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Union, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Union is 24 minutes, which is about 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