1st Advantage MortgageIn Union County, Illinois, the typical household earns $55,728 a year and the typical rent is $648. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Illinois license first.
On this page
- Union County by the numbers
- Rent, home values and ownership in Union County
- Household income in Union County
- How Union County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Union County
- Union County and the counties next door
- What a median Union County budget can carry
- Reading the Union County data as a borrower
- Union County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Union County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Union County
- More guides for Union County
- Frequently asked questions
Union County by the numbers
Union County is home to about 16,997 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 61st most populous of 102 county-level areas in Illinois. Spread over 413 square miles, that works out to roughly 41.1 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Union County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Anna, with about 4,196 residents, or 25% of the county.
Rent, home values and ownership in Union County
A typical Union County rental runs $648 a month including utilities, which is 49% below Illinois. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $131,700, about 2.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%. The median home was built in 1975, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Union County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $648/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $131,700 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 27% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Union County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Household income in Union County
The median household income in Union County is $55,728; statewide it is $83,390, so Union County runs 33% below Illinois as a whole. In the state ranking that is 93rd of 102.
| Households earning | Union County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.1% | +14.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.7% | +0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | -5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -9.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Union County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 20.2%, 8 points higher than the state's 11.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.459 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Union County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Union County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Union County residents work in education and health care and 10% in arts, lodging and food service. Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward public administration (9% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Union County | Gap to Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.5% | +5.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.0% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Public administration | 9.3% | +5.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | +1.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Union County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 48% of Union County residents live in one of the 6. Incomes vary by place: $58,500 at the median in Jonesboro, $33,137 in Anna. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna | city | 4,196 | $33,137 | $615 | 2 mi |
| Jonesboro | city | 1,870 | $58,500 | $688 | 3 mi |
| Cobden | village | 1,170 | $46,458 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Dongola | village | 553 | $34,145 | $654 | 10 mi |
| Alto Pass | village | 343 | $55,556 | $769 | 7 mi |
| Mill Creek | village | 37 | $151,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
Union County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Pulaski County at 20 miles out to Cape Girardeau County at 25. Income ranges from $42,463 in Pulaski County to $68,464 in Cape Girardeau County; 3 of these neighbors top Union County's median. Some neighbors are in Missouri. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Union County resident follows Illinois rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $55,728 | $648/mo | 77% |
| Pulaski County, IL | 20 mi | $42,463 | $634/mo | 68% |
| Johnson County, IL | 20 mi | $62,528 | $781/mo | 82% |
| Alexander County, IL | 22 mi | $47,043 | $656/mo | 78% |
| Jackson County, IL | 22 mi | $48,763 | $782/mo | 50% |
| Williamson County, IL | 24 mi | $65,604 | $930/mo | 71% |
| Cape Girardeau County, MO | 25 mi | $68,464 | $881/mo | 67% |
What a median Union County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Union County's medians:
- $55,728 a year is $4,644 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $648, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,672 total minus rent leaves $1,024
- $1,349: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Union County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Union County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Union County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 14% of Union County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Assistance before credit. With a 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Union County loan.
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Union County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.4%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Residents | Union County | Illinois | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.5% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.6% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Union County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Checklist for Union County applicants
Quick steps for Union County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Illinois license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Union County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Union County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Illinois guide.
More guides for Union County
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Union County earn?
The median is $55,728; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 35% 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 $648 a month; 48% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Union County?
By population: Anna, Jonesboro, Cobden, Dongola, Alto Pass. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Can Union County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Illinois county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Union County check a lender's license?
With the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.