1st Advantage MortgageUnion County households have a median income of $64,146 and median rent of $894 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Florida license first.
On this page
- Union County, FL: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Union County
- Renting and owning in Union County
- The Union County job picture
- Regional comparison for Union County
- The communities that make up Union County
- Room for a loan payment in Union County
- What the numbers mean for Union County borrowers
- People and households in Union County
- Checking a lender's license in Florida
- A Union County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Union County, FL: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Union County's population at 15,701; only 58 of Florida's 67 county-level areas are larger. It covers 244 square miles of land, or about 64 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Union County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Union County, Lake Butler leads by population with about 1,601; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Union County
Union County households have a median income of $64,146 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 38th of 67 in Florida.
| Household income | Union County | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.1% | +2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.7% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.6% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -5.4 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. 19.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.479 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Union County median.
Renting and owning in Union County
A typical Union County rental runs $894 a month including utilities, which is 46% below Florida. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,500, about 2.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 75%. The median year built is 1994.
| Home costs | Union County | Florida | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $894/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $169,500 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 35% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The Union County job picture
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 19%. Compared with Florida, the county leans toward retail trade (19% against 12%). The survey's unemployment rate for Union County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). Long commutes are common here: 34% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 2.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Union County share | +/- vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 18.7% | +6.8 pts |
| Public administration | 10.9% | +6.6 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +2.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.0% | +2.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -5.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Regional comparison for Union County
Bradford County is closest, 14 miles from center to center; the sixth, Gilchrist County, is 34 miles off. Clay County leads the group on income ($87,820), Columbia County trails ($59,205), and Union County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $64,146 | $894/mo | 75% |
| Bradford County, FL | 14 mi | $63,050 | $863/mo | 73% |
| Baker County, FL | 19 mi | $79,836 | $1,302/mo | 85% |
| Columbia County, FL | 19 mi | $59,205 | $976/mo | 72% |
| Alachua County, FL | 26 mi | $61,949 | $1,339/mo | 54% |
| Clay County, FL | 30 mi | $87,820 | $1,551/mo | 76% |
| Gilchrist County, FL | 34 mi | $63,523 | $926/mo | 86% |
The communities that make up Union County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Union County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 2,262 residents, leaving about 86% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Union County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Butler | city | 1,601 | $49,922 | $774 | 3 mi |
| Raiford | town | 382 | $63,281 | $945 | 8 mi |
| Worthington Springs | town | 279 | $48,750 | $1,109 | 9 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Union County
Here is the Union County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,346 a month: gross income for a household at the Union County median
- Less median rent of $894, which is 17% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,244 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Union County borrowers
Where the Union County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Long drives. With 34% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Union County budgets.
- 49% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
People and households in Union County
11% of Union County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Union County | Florida | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.1% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 21.4% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.0% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 15.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 17.1% |
| 60+ min | 17.2% |
Checking a lender's license in Florida
Consumer lenders serving Union County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Florida that is the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Florida guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Union County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Union County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Union County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Florida guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Union County a high-income county?
Its $64,146 median ranks 38th of 67 Florida counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Union County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $894 against $1,669 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Union County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Union County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Union County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Lake Butler, Raiford, Worthington Springs.
Will a Union County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Florida as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.