1st Advantage MortgageIn Union County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $102,900 a year and the typical rent is $1,496. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's North Carolina license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Union County
- Paychecks and income spread in Union County
- Work, industries and travel time in Union County
- Housing costs in Union County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Union County
- What a median Union County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Union County
- More Union County figures
- Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
- A Union County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Union County
Roughly 250,958 residents live in Union County, North Carolina, 8th by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. It covers 633 square miles of land, or about 397 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 15 places in the county (14 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Indian Trail, with about 42,036 residents, or 17% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Union County
Half of Union County households take in less than $102,900 a year and half take in more, 42% above the North Carolina median of $72,388.
| Band | Union County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.7% | -9.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.2% | -7.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.9% | +8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 19.1% | +8.7 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 52% have six-figure incomes. 7.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.445 (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.
Work, industries and travel time in Union County
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in finance, insurance and real estate, at 12% locally and 7% for North Carolina. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 19% work from home. Households without a car make up 2.4% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Sector | Union County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.9% | -3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.2% | -0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 11.6% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Union County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Union County
Renters in Union County pay a median of $1,496 a month, 22% above the North Carolina figure of $1,228. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. Home values center on $417,300, or 4.1 years of median income. 82% of Union County households own their home and 18% rent. The median year built is 2000.
| Measure | Union County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,496/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $417,300 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.5% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 13% | n/a |
Because most Union County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 32 miles). Income ranges from $47,302 in Anson County to $89,005 in Cabarrus County; none of these neighbors top Union County's median. The list crosses into South Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $102,900 | $1,496/mo | 82% |
| Lancaster County, SC | 23 mi | $78,869 | $959/mo | 83% |
| Anson County, NC | 24 mi | $47,302 | $814/mo | 69% |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 25 mi | $87,005 | $1,627/mo | 55% |
| Stanly County, NC | 27 mi | $60,704 | $861/mo | 74% |
| Cabarrus County, NC | 27 mi | $89,005 | $1,414/mo | 71% |
| Chesterfield County, SC | 32 mi | $49,235 | $762/mo | 73% |
Towns and communities in Union County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 15 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 70% of Union County residents live in one of the 15. Marvin has the highest median household income on the list ($250,001) and Marshville the lowest ($57,837), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $978 in Unionville to $3,191 in Wesley Chapel. None of the 15 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Trail | town | 42,036 | $108,483 | $2,077 | 9 mi |
| Monroe | city | 36,759 | $72,540 | $1,246 | 2 mi |
| Waxhaw | town | 22,275 | $131,894 | $1,840 | 12 mi |
| Stallings | town | 16,886 | $115,974 | $1,882 | 11 mi |
| Weddington | town | 13,805 | $190,766 | $1,927 | 12 mi |
| Wesley Chapel | village | 9,090 | $132,188 | $3,191 | 9 mi |
| Unionville | town | 6,954 | $96,028 | $978 | 6 mi |
| Marvin | village | 6,692 | $250,001 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Wingate | town | 4,425 | $63,068 | $1,123 | 5 mi |
| Fairview | town | 3,619 | $98,808 | $1,141 | 11 mi |
| Lake Park | village | 3,431 | $66,411 | $2,040 | 9 mi |
| Mineral Springs | town | 3,314 | $91,500 | $1,340 | 9 mi |
| Marshville | town | 2,615 | $57,837 | $1,117 | 9 mi |
| Hemby Bridge | town | 2,096 | $71,688 | $1,544 | 10 mi |
What a median Union County budget can carry
How much room does a median Union County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $8,575 gross per month ($102,900 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,496, takes 17% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,591 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $2,191 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Union County
Based on the Union County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 22% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 52% of Union County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Consolidating cards in Union County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
More Union County figures
College graduates make up 40% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.7%, against 9.9% for North Carolina.
| Measure | Union County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.5% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.4% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 19.5% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.7% |
| 60+ min | 9.2% |
Checking a lender's license in North Carolina
The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks is the place to verify any lender's North Carolina license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on North Carolina: North Carolina personal loans.
A Union County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Union County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in North Carolina.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Union County earn?
The median is $102,900; 52% earn $100,000 or more and 14% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Union County rent compare with North Carolina?
$1,496 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 22% above.
Should Union County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% 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 Indian Trail, Monroe, Waxhaw, Stallings, Weddington and 10 more.
Will a Union County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming North Carolina as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.