Union County, North Carolina Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 8th-largest in North Carolina

The population of Union County, North Carolina is 244,975 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 8th-largest county in North Carolina. The median household income is $99,243, the median home value is $374,400, and the median age is 39.1.

The population of Union County has grown 30.3% since 2010 (202,110 → 263,386), a +1.91% annualized rate.

Union County within North Carolina · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

244,975

Population

+1.91%

Annual growth

387

People / sq mi

$99,243

Median Income

$374,400

Median Home Value

Union County covers 633 sq mi of land at 387.2 people per square mile.

About Union County, NC

What sets Union County apart is where people work — remote work is unusually prominent here, at 18.0% versus 14.0% nationally. Union County is a county in North Carolina with a population of 244,975. That makes it one of the ten largest counties in North Carolina in the country, at #8 by population.

Earnings sit at the high end: a median household income of $99,243, above the US median of $78,538. Poverty is relatively low for US counties at 5.7%, below the national 12.4%. Real estate commands a premium here — a median home value of $374,400, with typical rent around $1,390.

Union County is among the best-educated US counties: 39.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree, above the national 35.0%. An unusually large 18.0% of workers are remote, above the national 14.0%, and the average commute runs about 30 minutes each way.

The remote-work concentration is telling in Union County — it skews toward higher-income, college-educated workers and reshapes both commute patterns and housing demand.

Union County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Union County had a population of 202,110 in 2010 and 263,386 in 2024, a 30.3% growth over 14 years. The peak was 263,386 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.91%.

Union County population, 2010–2024 · Source: U.S. Census Bureau — decennial census & Population Estimates

263,386

Population (2024)

202,110

Population (2010)

263,386

Peak (2024)

1.91%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	202,110	-	-	estimate
2011	204,916	+2,806	+1.39%	estimate
2012	208,106	+3,190	+1.56%	estimate
2013	212,261	+4,155	+2.00%	estimate
2014	217,767	+5,506	+2.59%	estimate
2015	222,051	+4,284	+1.97%	estimate
2016	226,501	+4,450	+2.00%	estimate
2017	231,525	+5,024	+2.22%	estimate
2018	236,217	+4,692	+2.03%	estimate
2019	240,028	+3,811	+1.61%	estimate
2020	239,688	-340	-0.14%	estimate
2021	244,491	+4,803	+2.00%	estimate
2022	249,714	+5,223	+2.14%	estimate
2023	257,510	+7,796	+3.12%	estimate
2024	263,386	+5,876	+2.28%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	71.1%
Black or African American	11.2%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.7%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

39.1

Median Age

50.3%

Female

49.7%

Male

13.2%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.5%

5–9

6.9%

10–14

8.3%

15–19

8.6%

20–24

6.2%

25–34

9.8%

35–44

13.4%

45–54

15.8%

55–59

6.7%

60–64

5.8%

65–74

8.1%

75–84

4.0%

85+

1.1%

Children (under 15): 20.7% · Seniors (65+): 13.2%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$99,243+$29,339 vs state
Mean household income	$132,863
Per-capita income	$45,355
Poverty rate	5.7%-3.7% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.8%
Employment-to-population	64.8%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

18.9%

Finance & real estate

12.1%

Manufacturing

11.5%

Information

11.1%

Construction

8.9%

Education & health care

7.4%

Arts, entertainment & food

5.0%

Retail trade

4.9%

The largest employment sector in Union County is professional & business services, accounting for 18.9% of workers.

How residents commute

0.2%

Drive alone

0.7%

Carpool

70.8%

Public transit

18.0%

Work from home

29.7 min

Avg commute

Housing

$374,400+$115,000 vs state

Median home value

$1,390

Median rent

81.8%

Homeownership rate

86,730

Total housing units

94.8%

Occupied

5.2%

Vacant

18.2%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

92.1%

With health insurance

96.3%

With broadband internet

41.7%

Foreign-born

6.4%

Veterans (18+)

9.2%

With a disability

83.1%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

90.4%

High School+

39.0%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in North Carolina

Charlotte (886,283)Raleigh (470,763)Greensboro (298,564)Durham (288,465)Winston-Salem (250,887)Fayetteville (209,692)Cary (176,686)Wilmington (118,578)High Point (115,263)Concord (106,518)All North Carolina cities →

Other counties in North Carolina

Wake County (1,151,009)Mecklenburg County (1,130,906)Guilford County (542,987)Forsyth County (386,740)Cumberland County (336,749)Durham County (329,405)Buncombe County (271,790)Gaston County (231,485)Cabarrus County (231,262)New Hanover County (231,214)All North Carolina counties →

Part of North Carolina

North Carolina demographic profile All North Carolina data →

Metro areas in North Carolina

Charlotte (2,712,818)Virginia Beach (1,782,590)Raleigh (1,449,594)Greensboro (779,894)Winston (683,637)Durham (594,291)Wilmington (440,578)Asheville (410,817)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Union County, North Carolina has a population of 244,975 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 8th-largest county in North Carolina. Population density is 387 people per square mile.

The population of Union County has grown 30.3% since 2010 (202,110 → 263,386), a +1.91% annualized rate.

The median household income in Union County, North Carolina is $99,243, with mean (average) household income of $132,863 and per-capita income of $45,355. 5.7% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Union County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (71.1%), Black or African American (11.2%), Hispanic or Latino (1.7%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Union County, North Carolina is 39.1 years. Residents are 50.3% female and 49.7% male.

The median home value in Union County is $374,400 and median monthly rent is $1,390. 81.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 86,730 total housing units, 5.2% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Union County, North Carolina is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 18.9% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

Charlotte is among the largest cities associated with Union County, North Carolina, with a population of 886,283.