Union County, IL Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Union County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,394 | 12,497,595 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 38.8 | 215.8 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.40% | -0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 42.9 | 37.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 6,914 | 5,000,691 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Union County declined by 6.2% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 16,972 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Union County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Union County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,158 | $82,179 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.10% | 4.78% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Union County is about 32% lower than in Illinois.
Housing
| Metric | Union County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $106,942 | $162,405 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $658 | $1,226 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.8% | 66.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Union County is about 13.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $658 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Union County spend about 45 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 189 hours, about 7.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Union County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.7 | 23.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 45.4 | 47.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 189 | 198 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,869 | $6,148 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 14.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,156 | 7,977 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 561 | 1,547 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Illinois:
Edgar County (12.1 min), Brown County (12.8 min), McDonough County (13.0 min).
Slowest:
Calhoun County (46.4 min), Cook County (30.8 min), Kendall County (30.7 min).
The average commute time in Union County is 23 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in Illinois.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Union County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Union County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 34.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.34 | 2.48 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Illinois:
DuPage County (0.4), Champaign County (0.4), Lake County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hardin County (0.2), Fayette County (0.2), Perry County (0.2).
Health
Union County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Union County | Illinois Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.7 | 77.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 17.0% | 15.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 20.3% | 19.2% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Illinois:
DuPage County (0.8), Champaign County (0.8), Monroe County (0.8).
Lowest:
Alexander County (0.8), Pulaski County (0.8), Gallatin County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Union County, Illinois.
What is the population of Union County, Illinois?
The population of Union County, Illinois is 16,394, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Union County, Illinois?
The population density of Union County, Illinois is 38.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Union County, Illinois?
The median household income in Union County, Illinois is $56,158, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Union County, Illinois?
The median home price in Union County, Illinois is $106,942, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Union County, Illinois?
The unemployment rate in Union County, Illinois is 5.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.