1st Advantage MortgageUnion County households have a median income of $41,621 and median rent of $804 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's South Carolina license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Union County
- Jobs and commutes in Union County
- What Union County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Union County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Union County
- Counties near Union County
- Budget math at the Union County median
- More Union County figures
- Before borrowing in Union County
- Before you sign
- South Carolina rules that apply in Union County
- More guides for Union County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Union County
Roughly 26,885 residents live in Union County, South Carolina, 35th by population among the state's 46 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 514 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 52 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Spartanburg, SC metropolitan area. Union is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 8,079 people (30% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Union County
Manufacturing employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 23%. Compared with South Carolina, the county leans toward manufacturing (26% against 13%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.9% in Union County. About 83% drive to work alone and 24% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Union County | Gap to South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.7% | +12.6 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.8% | +4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.9% | -2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -5.2 pts |
| Public administration | 5.2% | +0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Union County households earn
At $41,621, the typical Union County household income is 37% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 42 South Carolina counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Union County | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.7% | +18.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.2% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.7% | -10.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.5% | -6.4 pts |
About 43% of households earn under $35,000, while 16% clear $100,000. 22.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 14.1%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.469 (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
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $804 in Union County versus $1,180 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. Home values center on $103,600, or 2.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 71%. The median home was built in 1972, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Union County | South Carolina | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $804/mo | $1,180/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $103,600 | $259,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.2% | 14.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 13% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Cities, towns and CDPs in Union County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Union County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 13,247 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. Jonesville has the highest median household income on the list ($40,625) and Buffalo the lowest ($21,614), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Union County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union | city | 8,079 | $31,914 | $832 | 2 mi |
| Monarch Mill | CDP | 1,822 | $39,350 | $666 | 3 mi |
| Buffalo | CDP | 1,329 | $21,614 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Jonesville | town | 1,118 | $40,625 | $505 | 11 mi |
| Carlisle | town | 494 | $61,029 | $1,000 | 11 mi |
| Lockhart | town | 405 | $39,000 | $1,069 | 11 mi |
Counties near Union County
Six nearby counties, 25 to 31 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. York County leads the group on income ($89,095), Cherokee County trails ($50,288), and Union County out-earns 0 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | - | $41,621 | $804/mo | 71% |
| Cherokee County, SC | 25 mi | $50,288 | $869/mo | 74% |
| Chester County, SC | 26 mi | $52,458 | $853/mo | 78% |
| Laurens County, SC | 26 mi | $57,623 | $880/mo | 71% |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 27 mi | $66,234 | $1,084/mo | 73% |
| Newberry County, SC | 28 mi | $61,780 | $872/mo | 73% |
| York County, SC | 31 mi | $89,095 | $1,387/mo | 75% |
Budget math at the Union County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Union County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $41,621 a year is $3,468 of gross monthly income
- 23% goes to median rent ($804)
- $583: what a 40% 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.
More Union County figures
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 10.5%, against 9.6% for South Carolina.
| Residents | Union County | South Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.0% | 32.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.9% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 9.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.2% | 5.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 11.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.6% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Union County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.4% |
| 60+ min | 11.6% |
Before borrowing in Union County
Where the Union County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 24% of Union County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 21% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 23% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Union County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in South Carolina.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
South Carolina rules that apply in Union County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Union County resident can confirm its license with the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions. South Carolina also has the Consumer Finance Division of the State Board of Financial Institutions for consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The South Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Union County
The South Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Union County earn?
The median is $41,621; 16% earn $100,000 or more and 43% 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 $804 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Union County?
By population: Union, Monarch Mill, Buffalo, Jonesville, Carlisle. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Union County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Union County residents?
The South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in South Carolina; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.