Union County, IA
County
Add ComparisonNone of the households in Union County, IA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.
98.5% of the residents in Union County, IA are U.S. citizens.
The largest universities in Union County, IA are Southwestern Community College (485 degrees awarded in 2024).
Union County, IA is home to a population of 12k people, from which 98.5% are citizens. As of 2024, 1.83% of Union County, IA residents were born outside of the country (220 people).
In 2024, there were 49.2 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (11k people) in Union County, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 224 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 151 Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.
As of 2024, 98.5% of Union County, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Union County, IA was 99.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.
The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Union County, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.
In 2024, there were 49.2 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (11k people) in Union County, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 224 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) and 151 Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.
3.84% of the people in Union County, IA are hispanic (460 people).
The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Union County, IA as a share of the total population.
In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 44,333 Iowa residents, followed by India with 11,889 and Guatemala with 8,189.
As of 2024, 1.83% of Union County, IA residents (220 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Union County, IA was 0.972%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.
The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Union County, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.
91.7% of the population of Union County, IA has health coverage, with 40.9% on employee plans, 20.7% on Medicaid, 15.6% on Medicare, 12.9% on non-group plans, and 1.66% on military or VA plans.
Primary care physicians in Union County, IA see 1,002 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,002 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1981 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 458 patients per year.
By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.7% were men and 50.3% were women.
Primary care physicians in Union County, IA see an average of 1,002 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,002 patients).
The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Union County, IA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.
In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 24.2% under 18 years, 18.7% between 18 and 34 years, 36.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.3% over 64 years.
By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.7% were men and 50.3% were women.
The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.
Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Union County, IA grew by 5.77% from 7.87% to 8.32%.
The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Union County, IA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.
In 2025, the average number of mentally unhealthy days reported in past 30 days (age-adjusted) was 5.19 in Union County, IA.
The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Union County, IA.
In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 38.1% in Union County, IA.
The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Union County, IA.
In 2025, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance was 5.61% in Union County, IA.
The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Union County, IA.
From 2023 to 2024, employment in Union County, IA declined at a rate of −2.36%, from 5.56k employees to 5.43k employees.
The most common job groups, by number of people living in Union County, IA, are Management Occupations (677 people), Production Occupations (662 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (523 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Union County, IA.
This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Iowa (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.
The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.
From 2023 to 2024, employment in Union County, IA declined at a rate of −2.36%, from 5.56k employees to 5.43k employees.
The most common employment sectors for those who live in Union County, IA, are Manufacturing (865 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (768 people), and Retail Trade (701 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Union County, IA, though some of these residents may live in Union County, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.
The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($86,000), Public Administration ($72,981), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($66,471).
The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Construction ($69,444), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($57,917), and Public Administration ($54,375).
As of February 2023, there are 1.57M people employed in Iowa. This represents a 1.48% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.
Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.
The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Iowa.
The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.
In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Iowa went to Donald J. Trump with 55.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (42.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.789%).
Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing the state of Iowa. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.
Iowa is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.
Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing Iowa.
In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.
The following chart shows elected senators in Iowa over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.
Most students graduating from Universities in Union County, IA are White (411 and 87.8%), Hispanic or Latino (24 and 5.13%), Black or African American (14 and 2.99%), and Two or More Races (13 and 2.78%).
The largest universities in Union County, IA by number of degrees awarded are Southwestern Community College (485 and 100%).
The most popular majors in Union County, IA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (128 and 26.4%), Electrician (49 and 10.1%), and Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training (41 and 8.45%).
In 2024 there were 1,566 students enrolled in Union County, IA, 40.2% men and 59.8% women.
By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 1,313 records, of which 62% were women and 38% men.
In 2024, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Union County, IA was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 128 degrees awarded.
This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Union County, IA according to their major.
In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Southwestern Community College with 485 degrees awarded.
In 2024, 256 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Union County, IA, which is 1.12 times more than the 229 female students who received degrees in the same year.
In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 411 degrees mean that there were 17.1 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 24 degrees awarded.
The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.
Public, 2-year ($7,596) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.
Public, 2-year ($468) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.
Public, 2-year ($1,366) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.
The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.
In 2025, 9.32% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Union County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 5.48%.
In 2024, 72.1% of the housing units in Union County, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 72.1%.
This chart shows the percentage of owner in Union County, IA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.
In 2024, the median household income of the 5.12k households in Union County, IA grew to $57,772 from the previous year's value of $56,813.
The following chart displays the households in Union County, IA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.
In 2024, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.435 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 1.29% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Iowa in comparison to the national average.
This chart shows the number of workers in Iowa across various wage buckets compared to the national average.
In 2024, 80% of workers in Union County, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.92%) and those who worked at home (4.63%).
The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.
The following chart displays the households in Union County, IA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Union County, IA have 2 cars.
In 2025, 9.32% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Union County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 5.48%.
The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.
12.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Union County, IA (1.45k out of 11.7k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 55 - 64, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Males 55 - 64.
The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Union County, IA is White, followed by Two Or More and Asian.
The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.
In 2025, 17.7% of the children was living in poverty in Union County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 3.2%.
The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.
In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 219 in Union County, IA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 24.1% per 100,000 population.
The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.
