1st Advantage MortgageIn Union Parish, Louisiana, the typical household earns $42,885 a year and the typical rent is $778. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Louisiana license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Union Parish
- Jobs and commutes in Union Parish
- Paychecks and income spread in Union Parish
- What it costs to live in Union Parish
- The communities that make up Union Parish
- Counties near Union Parish
- Room for a loan payment in Union Parish
- Union Parish residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Union Parish
- A Union Parish borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Union Parish
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Union Parish
Roughly 20,821 residents live in Union Parish, Louisiana, 42nd by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 877 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 24 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Monroe, LA metropolitan area. Farmerville is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 3,407 people (16% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Union Parish
The biggest employer of Union Parish residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by retail trade (16%). Manufacturing stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 86% drive to work alone and 20% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Union Parish | Compared with Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.9% | -6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.7% | +4.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% | +5.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.5% | +1.7 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.0% | +5.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Paychecks and income spread in Union Parish
The median household income in Union Parish is $42,885; statewide it is $60,756, so Union Parish runs 29% below Louisiana as a whole. In the state ranking that is 52nd of 64.
| Yearly household income | Union Parish | Gap to Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.2% | +11.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.3% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.8% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -5.1 pts |
Some 42% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 29.4%, 10 points higher than the state's 18.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.486 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Union Parish application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Union Parish
Renters in Union Parish pay a median of $778 a month, 27% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. With a median value of $112,500, a typical Union Parish house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. The median year built is 1987.
| Housing | Union Parish | Louisiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $778/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $112,500 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 34.7% | 12.6% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Union Parish, 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The communities that make up Union Parish
5 Census places fall mainly inside Union Parish; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 5,527 residents, leaving about 73% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $28,452 at the median in Marion, $26,356 in Farmerville. Median rent ranges from $695 in Bernice to $806 in Marion. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmerville | town | 3,407 | $26,356 | $765 | 4 mi |
| Bernice | town | 1,355 | $26,399 | $695 | 16 mi |
| Marion | town | 539 | $28,452 | $806 | 9 mi |
| Lillie | village | 133 | $53,750 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Spearsville | village | 93 | $44,375 | n/a | 15 mi |
Counties near Union Parish
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 38 miles). Income ranges from $32,831 in Claiborne Parish to $55,259 in Union County; 3 of these neighbors top Union Parish's median. Some neighbors are in Arkansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Union Parish resident follows Louisiana rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Parish | - | $42,885 | $778/mo | 78% |
| Lincoln Parish, LA | 23 mi | $39,172 | $825/mo | 54% |
| Union County, AR | 27 mi | $55,259 | $847/mo | 73% |
| Ouachita Parish, LA | 27 mi | $54,688 | $959/mo | 61% |
| Morehouse Parish, LA | 33 mi | $39,454 | $839/mo | 69% |
| Claiborne Parish, LA | 36 mi | $32,831 | $674/mo | 69% |
| Jackson Parish, LA | 38 mi | $44,925 | $736/mo | 70% |
Room for a loan payment in Union Parish
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Union Parish household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $3,574 a month: gross income for a household at the Union Parish median
- Less median rent of $778, which is 22% of it
- At 35%, room after rent is $473 a month
- $830: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $778, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Union Parish residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.9%, against 7.8% for Louisiana.
| Measure | Union Parish | Louisiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.8% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.5% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 29.4% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Union Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Union Parish
Where the Union Parish numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Union Parish emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 35% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 29% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Union Parish borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Union Parish:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Louisiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Union Parish
The Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Louisiana license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Louisiana: Louisiana personal loans.
Related local guides
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Union Parish?
$42,885 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,756 for Louisiana. It ranks 52nd of 64 in the state.
How does Union Parish rent compare with Louisiana?
$778 locally versus $1,064 for the state, 27% below.
I own my home in Union Parish. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Union Parish?
By population: Farmerville, Bernice, Marion, Lillie, Spearsville. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Union Parish?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.