State rank#7 of 21
Smallest county579,290 residentsBergen County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 34039
Union County, New Jersey
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population579,290
Household income$103,202
Unemployment4.8%
Life expectancy79.3 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Union County has 579,290 residents and ranks #7 by population among New Jersey county equivalents. Median household income is $103,202. The annual-average unemployment rate is 4.8%. Its clearest relative strength is life expectancy. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within New Jersey
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Union County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Union County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is life expectancy.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $529,200 median home value and $1,730/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $103,202, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Union County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing life expectancy, median household income, and mental health access. College attainment is 38.9% and life expectancy is 79.3 years.
Potential advantages
- Life expectancy: 79.3 years, rank #8 of 21 available New Jersey counties.
- Median household income: $103,202, rank #10 of 21 available New Jersey counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 393 residents, rank #11 of 21 available New Jersey counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Uninsured: 12.6%, rank #21 of 21; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $529,200, rank #16 of 21; investigate local variation before moving.
- Unemployment rate: 4.8%, rank #14 of 21; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within New Jersey
Rank and range use only counties in New Jersey with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$103,202
$103,202; above the state county median of $100,869.
State rank #10 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$529,200
$529,200; above the state county median of $434,600.
State rank #16 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,730/mo
$1,730/mo; above the state county median of $1,623/mo.
State rank #13 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
4.8%
4.8%; above the state county median of 4.4%.
State rank #14 of 21 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
38.9%
38.9%; below the state county median of 39.1%.
State rank #13 of 21 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
79.3 years
79.3 years; above the state county median of 78.4 years.
State rank #8 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
15.7%
15.7%; above the state county median of 14.8%.
State rank #14 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
12.6%
12.6%; above the state county median of 6.8%.
State rank #21 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,625 residents
1 per 1,625 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 1,396 residents.
State rank #12 of 21 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 393 residents
1 per 393 residents; at the state county median of 1 per 393 residents.
State rank #11 of 21 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Union County FAQ
Is Union County a good place to live?
Union County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing life expectancy, median household income, and mental health access. College attainment is 38.9% and life expectancy is 79.3 years.
What should I know before moving to Union County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $529,200 median home value and $1,730/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $103,202, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Union County?
Union County has 579,290 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Union County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 34039; the parent state FIPS is 34.
What is the median household income in Union County?
The ACS median household income is $103,202.
How much does housing cost in Union County?
Housing benchmarks are $529,200 median home value and $1,730/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $103,202, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Union County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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