1st Advantage MortgageThe median Union County household earns $76,404, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Pennsylvania before sharing details.
On this page
- Union County at a glance
- How Union County residents earn a living
- What Union County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Union County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Union County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Union County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Union County borrowers
- People and households in Union County
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Union County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Union County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Union County's population at 42,456; only 49 of Pennsylvania's 67 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 316 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 134 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Union County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 11 Census places inside Union County, Lewisburg leads by population with about 5,257; 4 of the 11 are incorporated.
How Union County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Union County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 40% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). Education and health care stands out: 40% of workers here, versus 27% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 5% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 9.7% of the total (10.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Union County | Gap to Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 40.3% | +13.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | -0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.8% | -5.6 pts |
| Other services | 5.6% | +1.0 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
The median household income in Union County is $76,404; statewide it is $77,971, so Union County runs 2% below Pennsylvania as a whole.
| Band | Union County | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.4% | +1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.6% | -3.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Union County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.0%, 3 points lower than the state's 11.7%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.474 (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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Union County
A typical Union County rental runs $974 a month including utilities, which is 19% below Pennsylvania. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $240,100, a typical Union County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 72% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1974.
| Union County | Pennsylvania | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $974/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $240,100 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.2% | 3.5% | 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Union County
11 Census places fall mainly inside Union County; the 11 biggest are below. They account for 14,795 residents, leaving about 65% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. New Columbia has the highest median household income on the list ($115,176) and West Milton the lowest ($47,574), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $695 in West Milton to $1,321 in Linntown. This guide covers each of the 11 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewisburg | borough | 5,257 | $54,767 | $997 | 9 mi |
| Mifflinburg | borough | 3,473 | $67,391 | $922 | 3 mi |
| Linntown | CDP | 1,764 | $114,426 | $1,321 | 8 mi |
| Winfield | CDP | 909 | $88,625 | $696 | 11 mi |
| West Milton | CDP | 804 | $47,574 | $695 | 10 mi |
| New Berlin | borough | 781 | $89,286 | $1,047 | 7 mi |
| New Columbia | CDP | 766 | $115,176 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Vicksburg | CDP | 289 | $37,961 | $657 | 4 mi |
| Laurelton | CDP | 258 | $67,188 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Hartleton | borough | 248 | $82,875 | $1,000 | 7 mi |
| Allenwood | CDP | 246 | $75,000 | $950 | 13 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Snyder County at 14 miles out to Juniata County at 35. Income ranges from $60,583 in Northumberland County to $76,976 in Montour County; 1 of these neighbors top Union County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $76,404 | $974/mo | 72% |
| Snyder County, PA | 14 mi | $66,876 | $929/mo | 76% |
| Northumberland County, PA | 20 mi | $60,583 | $806/mo | 75% |
| Montour County, PA | 21 mi | $76,976 | $1,142/mo | 68% |
| Lycoming County, PA | 26 mi | $63,917 | $913/mo | 69% |
| Columbia County, PA | 34 mi | $64,644 | $943/mo | 69% |
| Juniata County, PA | 35 mi | $66,318 | $756/mo | 74% |
Debt-to-income at Union County's medians
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.
- $76,404 a year is $6,367 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $974, which is 15% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,318 a month
If your rent is above $974, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
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.
- Hospital bills in Union County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Renters under pressure. When 48% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
People and households in Union County
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Union County | Pennsylvania statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.5% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.7% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.2% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.6% |
| 60+ min | 2.9% |
Before you sign
A short checklist for Union County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Union County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Union County, check the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Pennsylvania guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Union County household make?
About $76,404 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 2% below the Pennsylvania median.
Is Union County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $974 against $1,209 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Union County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% 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.
What are the biggest places in Union County?
By population: Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, Linntown, Winfield, West Milton. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Will a Union County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Pennsylvania as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.