Union County, Iowa Income Statistics
Union County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Union County Below averageLess wealthy than 84% of counties in Iowa
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Union County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,088 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,561 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.0% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.5% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.6% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Union County is about 23% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in Union County (3.0%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Union County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2010–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Union County, Iowa grew by 42.0% from 2010 to 2024, reaching $58,088 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Union County
| Metric | Union County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.511 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,993 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $40,609 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.7% | 21.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Union County, it is 0.511, about the same as Iowa's 0.510, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 40% more than women's income in Union County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 40% wage gap accumulates to roughly $573,440 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Union County, Iowa has widened from about 27% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2022, and was narrowest at 20% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,813 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Union County widened by 2.1 points while Iowa's narrowed by 3.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Union County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.6% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 10 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 228 people are unemployed in Union County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Union County is 10 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Union County, Iowa has fallen from 6.1% to 4.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.1% in 2013.
Union County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Union County, IA is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 11,993 residents against a local median of 7,460. Where Union County, IA breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 41% below the local median of 5.0%/yr at 3.0%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $58,088 against a local median of $71,996, 19% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Union County, IA reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 1.5%/yr on income growth, so Union County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Union County, IA has the 6th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County, IA | 11,993 | $58,088 #6/6 | 3.0%/yr #6/6 | 4.0% #5/6 | 0.511 #6/6 |
| Ringgold County, IA | 4,645 | $72,941 | 5.8%/yr | 3.2% | 0.500 |
| Madison County, IA | 16,926 | $88,339 | 5.0%/yr | 3.5% | 0.482 |
| Adair County, IA | 7,460 | $67,688 | 4.3%/yr | 4.0% | 0.498 |
| Adams County, IA | 3,622 | $70,391 | 4.7%/yr | 3.9% | 0.508 |
| Clarke County, IA | 9,662 | $71,996 | 5.6%/yr | 4.2% | 0.484 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Union County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Iowa, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Union County, Iowa.
How Wealthy Is Union County, Iowa?
Union County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $58,088, about 23% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How fast is household income rising in Union County, Iowa?
Between 2010 and 2024, the median household income in Union County, Iowa rose 42%, from $40,893 to $58,088. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +42% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Union County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Union County, Iowa was $56,979, up 1% from $56,411 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Union County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Union County, Iowa was $50,526. By 2024 it had risen 15% to $58,088.
What is the Gini coefficient in Union County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Union County is 0.511. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Union County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Union County, Iowa has widened from about 27% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2022, and was narrowest at 20% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,813 since 2009.
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