1st Advantage MortgageUnion County households have a median income of $60,327 and median rent of $790 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kentucky before sharing details.
On this page
- Union County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Union County
- Paychecks and income spread in Union County
- The Union County job picture
- Places inside Union County
- Counties near Union County
- Room for a loan payment in Union County
- More Union County figures
- Before borrowing in Union County
- Checklist for Union County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Union County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Union County by the numbers
With an estimated 13,260 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Union County ranks 81st of 120 in Kentucky for population. Spread over 343 square miles, that works out to roughly 38.7 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Union County is not part of any metropolitan area. Morganfield is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 3,185 people (24% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Union County
Renters in Union County pay a median of $790 a month, 18% below the Kentucky figure of $967. By the Census definition, 34% of Union County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $104,500, or 1.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 70% of homes.
| Home costs | Union County | Kentucky | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $790/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $104,500 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.4% | 10.7% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Union County
The median household income in Union County is $60,327; statewide it is $63,726, so Union County runs 5% below Kentucky as a whole.
| Yearly household income | Union County | Gap to Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.5% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.8% | -1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.3% | -4.9 pts |
About 30% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. Census counts 18.4% of Union County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.448 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Union County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Union County job picture
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Union County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 10% locally and 2% for Kentucky. The survey's unemployment rate for Union County averages 2.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). About 82% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.6% of the total (6.8% statewide).
| Top industries | Union County share | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.7% | +5.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.9% | +8.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +1.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Places inside Union County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Union County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 7,793 people, so roughly 41% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $65,829 at the median in Morganfield, $36,780 in Sturgis. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morganfield | city | 3,185 | $65,829 | $852 | 4 mi |
| Sturgis | city | 1,864 | $36,780 | $678 | 8 mi |
| Breckinridge Center | CDP | 1,467 | $64,152 | $1,013 | 5 mi |
| Uniontown | city | 874 | $43,857 | $598 | 8 mi |
| Waverly | city | 403 | $62,188 | $831 | 8 mi |
Counties near Union County
Six nearby counties, 17 to 26 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $46,656 in Crittenden County to $78,129 in Posey County; 1 of these neighbors top Union County's median. Some neighbors are in Illinois and Indiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Union County resident follows Kentucky rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $60,327 | $790/mo | 70% |
| Gallatin County, IL | 17 mi | $59,219 | $541/mo | 77% |
| Webster County, KY | 17 mi | $59,628 | $783/mo | 74% |
| Hardin County, IL | 20 mi | $54,271 | $379/mo | 80% |
| Crittenden County, KY | 22 mi | $46,656 | $714/mo | 78% |
| Henderson County, KY | 23 mi | $58,851 | $777/mo | 65% |
| Posey County, IN | 26 mi | $78,129 | $782/mo | 82% |
Room for a loan payment in Union County
Union County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,027 a month: gross income for a household at the Union County median
- 16% goes to median rent ($790)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $970 left for all other debt payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,472 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Union County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Union County figures
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. 5.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Union County | Kentucky | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.1% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Before borrowing in Union County
What the Union County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Mobile home upkeep. 15% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 18% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Union County borrower sees (free reports).
Checklist for Union County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Union County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Union County-area credit union.
- A Kentucky license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Who licenses lenders for Union County residents
Union County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Kentucky: Kentucky personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Union County earn?
The median is $60,327; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 30% 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 $790 a month; 34% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Union County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 70% 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.
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 Morganfield, Sturgis, Breckinridge Center, Uniontown, Waverly.
Does living in Union County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Union County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.