Union County, North Carolina 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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B
Union County Around averageAmong the top 3 wealthiest counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Union County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $104,427 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $65,371 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.6% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.3% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 19.1% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Union County is about 44% higher than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Union County (5.6%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Union County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Union County, North Carolina grew by 73.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $104,427 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Union County
| Metric | Union County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $76,816 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $60,895 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.7% | 16.7% | 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 0.554, higher than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 26% more than women's income in Union County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 26% wage gap accumulates to roughly $557,235 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, North Carolina has narrowed from about 27% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,041 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Union County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.5% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 28 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 5,550 people are unemployed in Union County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Union County is 28 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Union County, North Carolina has fallen from 8.3% to 4.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.2% in 2023.
Union County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Union County, NC is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 250,888 residents against a local median of 104,481. Union County, NC's median household income, at $104,427, runs 29% above the $81,073 typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $40,124 on median household income, so Union County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Union County, NC has the highest median household income 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, NC | 250,888 | $104,427 #1/6 | 5.6%/yr #2/6 | 4.2% #2/6 | 0.554 #6/6 |
| Lancaster County, SC | 104,481 | $81,073 | 7.1%/yr | 4.3% | 0.545 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 1,154,528 | $87,854 | 5.0%/yr | 4.3% | 0.532 |
| Cabarrus County, NC | 236,149 | $88,863 | 5.2%/yr | 4.6% | 0.536 |
| Stanly County, NC | 64,639 | $60,751 | 4.1%/yr | 4.0% | 0.536 |
| Anson County, NC | 22,289 | $48,739 | 4.4%/yr | 5.5% | 0.550 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Union County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than North Carolina, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Union County, North Carolina.
How Wealthy Is Union County, North Carolina?
Union County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $104,427, about 44% higher than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Union County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Union County, North Carolina rose 74%, from $60,092 to $104,427. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +74% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Union County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Union County, North Carolina was $99,247, up 3% from $96,332 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Union County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Union County, North Carolina was $83,633. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $104,427.
Do many residents of Union County, North Carolina earn over $100,000?
Yes. 16% of adults in Union County, North Carolina earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in North Carolina. 19% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 10% in North Carolina.
What is the Gini coefficient in Union County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Union County is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Union County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Union County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 27% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,041 since 2009.
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