1st Advantage MortgageUnion County households have a median income of $66,176 and median rent of $808 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Union County
- Household income in Union County
- Renting and owning in Union County
- Employment and commuting in Union County
- Towns and communities in Union County
- How Union County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Union County
- Union County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Union County
- Before you sign
- Georgia rules that apply in Union County
- More guides for Union County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Union County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Union County's population at 26,304; only 73 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 322 square miles, that is close to 82 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Blairsville, with about 902 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county.
Household income in Union County
Union County households have a median income of $66,176 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 54th of 159 in Georgia.
| Yearly household income | Union County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.0% | +3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +5.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.5% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -4.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Union County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 10.9%, 2 points lower than the state's 13.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.482 (0 is perfect equality). 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
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $808 in Union County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $307,400, about 4.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 84% of homes. Median construction year: 1995.
| Home costs | Union County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $808/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $307,400 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 24% | 10% | 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).
Employment and commuting in Union County
The biggest employer of Union County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by construction (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 13% locally and 7% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.6% in Union County. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.4% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Where residents work | Union County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 12.8% | +5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% | -0.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -0.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Towns and communities in Union County
Just one Census place, Blairsville, lies mainly within Union County; it holds about 902 people. Blairsville has no separate guide, so this county page serves it.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blairsville | city | 902 | $30,357 | $788 | 4 mi |
How Union County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Towns County at 15 miles out to Cherokee County at 21. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Union County; Lumpkin County is highest at $77,448 and Cherokee County lowest at $53,628. The list crosses into North Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $66,176 | $808/mo | 84% |
| Towns County, GA | 15 mi | $59,135 | $808/mo | 82% |
| Lumpkin County, GA | 18 mi | $77,448 | $1,142/mo | 76% |
| Fannin County, GA | 19 mi | $57,073 | $900/mo | 79% |
| White County, GA | 19 mi | $70,666 | $1,032/mo | 79% |
| Clay County, NC | 20 mi | $56,971 | $804/mo | 81% |
| Cherokee County, NC | 21 mi | $53,628 | $813/mo | 84% |
Room for a loan payment in Union County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Union County's medians:
- $66,176 a year is $5,515 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $808, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,930 total minus rent leaves $1,122
- Under a 45% cap, $2,482 total minus rent leaves $1,674
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Union County households compared
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. 13.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Union County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.9 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.9% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.7% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.7% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Union County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Union County
A few patterns in the Union County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Union County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Retirees. At a median age of 55.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Union County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Union County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Union County-area credit union.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Georgia rules that apply in Union County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Union County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
More guides for Union County
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Union County earn?
The median is $66,176; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Union County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $808 a month; 40% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Union County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Blairsville.
Can Union County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Georgia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Union County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.