Housing Market Overview
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Union County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $397,130 | $359,215 | $242,182 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 6.4% | 5.3% | 8.2% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,664 | $1,653 | $1,342 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 5.0% | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Union County is about 11% higher than in New Jersey. Rent is about 1% higher than the New Jersey average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2023
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2023
Both home prices and rent are rising in Union County, up about 6.4% and 5.0% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Union County rose about 41.9% between 2015 and 2023, from $1,173 to $1,664. Over the same span, rent in New Jersey rose about 38.7%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 4.0 yearly household incomes in Union County.
Buying the median-priced home in Union County costs roughly 19.9 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Union County. The price-to-rent ratio in New Jersey is about 18.1.
| Metric | Union County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $397,130 | $359,215 | $242,182 |
| Median Household Income | $100,148 | $101,200 | $78,145 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2023, the median home price in Union County rose about 46.3%, while median household income rose about 50.5% between 2009 and 2023 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Union County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 55.0% | 58.7% | 58.2% |
| Rental Rate | 40.4% | 33.4% | 31.3% |
| Vacancy Rate | 4.5% | 7.9% | 10.6% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 16.0 | 16.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 |
Union County has a homeownership rate of 55.0%, lower than the New Jersey average of 58.7%. Its housing vacancy rate is 4.5%, compared with 7.9% in New Jersey.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Union County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.80 people | 2.61 people | 2.54 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1961 | 1968 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Union County was built around 1961. On average, 2.8 people live in a home with about 5.5 rooms, staying for about 16.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Union County, New Jersey.
What is the median home price in Union County, New Jersey?
The median home price in Union County, New Jersey is $397,130, higher than the New Jersey average of $359,215.
What is the average home price in Union County, New Jersey?
The typical home price in %s, reported as the median sale price, is %s. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Union County, New Jersey?
The median gross rent in Union County, New Jersey is $1,664 per month, higher than the New Jersey average of $1,653.
What was the median gross rent in Union County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Union County, New Jersey was $1,335 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Union County, New Jersey?
The price-to-rent ratio in Union County, New Jersey is about 19.9, meaning it would take roughly 19.9 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Union County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Union County, New Jersey?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Union County, up about 6.4% and 5.0% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Union County, New Jersey?
55.0% of households in Union County, New Jersey own their home, lower than the New Jersey average of 58.7%.
What is the vacancy rate in Union County, New Jersey?
The housing vacancy rate in Union County, New Jersey is 4.5%, lower than the New Jersey average of 7.9%.