What it's like to live in Union City
Union City is a smaller city in New Jersey with schools with smaller class sizes than the national average and public transit that many commuters actually use. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Union City deals with home prices well above the national average, unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Above-average commute times
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
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
$3,074
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $61,480 a year
- 51% of Union City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$94,320
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $47,160
- Homes cost 7.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,537/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,537 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $471,600. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $471,600 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 28% above US
5.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.5%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 25% below US
248 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1402/100k · Union City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 27% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 33.1 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. 4 in 10 workers drive to work; 37% take public transit; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 21% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Stonewall National Monument (3 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Union City's strongest point is public transit that many commuters actually use; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,537/mo) equals 29% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Union City
All New Jersey guides →Moving to West New York →
2 mi away · pop. 52,004
Rent $1,716/mo · Income $71,729
Compare with Union City →Moving to Secaucus →
2 mi away · pop. 21,778
Rent $2,391/mo · Income $139,821
Compare with Union City →Not sure Union City is the one?
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