1st Advantage MortgageUnion County households have a median income of $65,661 and median rent of $982 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
- Union County at a glance
- The Union County job picture
- What Union County households earn
- Union County housing compared with Oregon
- Places inside Union County
- The counties around Union County
- Budget math at the Union County median
- What the numbers mean for Union County borrowers
- Union County households compared
- Checklist for Union County applicants
- Oregon rules that apply in Union County
- More guides for Union County
- Frequently asked questions
Union County at a glance
With an estimated 26,144 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Union County ranks 24th of 36 in Oregon for population. Spread over 2,037 square miles, that works out to roughly 12.8 residents 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. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (8 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is La Grande, with about 13,058 residents, or 50% of the county.
The Union County job picture
The biggest employer of Union County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 6% locally and 3% for Oregon. The survey's unemployment rate for Union County averages 5.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). About 72% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.3% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Sector | Union County | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.3% | +1.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | -1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -5.4 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.
What Union County households earn
Union County households have a median income of $65,661 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 22nd of 36 in Oregon.
| Band | Union County | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.1% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.9% | -3.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -6.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Union County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 16.1%, 4 points higher than the state's 11.9%. 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.
Union County housing compared with Oregon
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $982 in Union County versus $1,525 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $294,600, about 4.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 66%. The median home was built in 1973, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Union County | Oregon statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $982/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $294,600 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.2% | 7.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 8% | n/a |
Places inside Union County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Union County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 19,551 residents, leaving about 25% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,273 in North Powder to $82,500 in Cove. Median rent ranges from $815 in North Powder to $1,390 in Cove. No Union County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Grande | city | 13,058 | $58,427 | $968 | 4 mi |
| Union | city | 2,290 | $65,047 | $891 | 9 mi |
| Elgin | city | 1,549 | $57,750 | $992 | 18 mi |
| Island City | city | 1,145 | $66,563 | $950 | 3 mi |
| Cove | city | 651 | $82,500 | $1,390 | 9 mi |
| North Powder | city | 563 | $52,273 | $815 | 19 mi |
| Imbler | city | 189 | $66,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Summerville | town | 106 | $120,417 | n/a | 13 mi |
The counties around Union County
Umatilla County is closest, 41 miles from center to center; the sixth, Asotin County, is 71 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Union County; Walla Walla County is highest at $74,202 and Baker County lowest at $60,936. The list crosses into Washington, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $65,661 | $982/mo | 66% |
| Umatilla County, OR | 41 mi | $67,728 | $997/mo | 68% |
| Baker County, OR | 44 mi | $60,936 | $865/mo | 71% |
| Wallowa County, OR | 44 mi | $67,112 | $981/mo | 72% |
| Columbia County, WA | 68 mi | $71,810 | $985/mo | 78% |
| Walla Walla County, WA | 70 mi | $74,202 | $1,218/mo | 65% |
| Asotin County, WA | 71 mi | $72,283 | $1,043/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Union County median
Here is the Union County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,472 gross per month ($65,661 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $982 uses 18%
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,207 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Union County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Union County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Union County borrowers.
- Consolidating cards in Union County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Union County borrower sees (free reports).
Union County households compared
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.9%, against 5.9% for Oregon.
| People and households | Union County | Oregon | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.1% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.5% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.9% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Union County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
Checklist for Union County applicants
A short checklist for Union County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Oregon license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Oregon rules that apply in Union County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Union County resident can confirm its license with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Oregon guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Union County
For statewide rules and data, see the Oregon guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Union County?
$65,661 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,011 for Oregon. It ranks 22nd of 36 in the state.
What do renters pay in Union County?
$982 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Union County?
By population: La Grande, Union, Elgin, Island City, Cove. The county has 8 Census places in all.
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.
Where can someone in Union County check a lender's license?
With the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.