What it's like to live in Union City
Union City is a smaller city in California with household incomes running above the national average and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Union City deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
How Union City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Union City
Based on Union City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$5,426
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $108,520 a year
- 45% of Union City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$220,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $110,490
- Homes cost 8.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 92% above US
$2,713/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,713 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $1,104,900. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $1,104,900 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 38% above US
453 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1826/100k · Union City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 23% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.9 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 77°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 43°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 25% above US
45% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 45% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 24:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (15 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Union City's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,713/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Union City
All California guides →Moving to Hayward →
5 mi away · pop. 158,801
Rent $2,391/mo · Income $113,318
Compare with Union City →Moving to Fairview →
5 mi away · pop. 10,745
Rent $2,644/mo · Income $148,667
Compare with Union City →Moving to Fremont →
6 mi away · pop. 228,295
Rent $2,933/mo · Income $181,506
Compare with Union City →Not sure Union City is the one?
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