Union County, New Jersey Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 7th-largest in New Jersey

The population of Union County, New Jersey is 572,549 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 7th-largest county in New Jersey. The median household income is $100,117, the median home value is $488,800, and the median age is 39.1.

The population of Union County has grown 10.6% since 2010 (537,336 → 594,160), a +0.72% annualized rate.

Union County within New Jersey · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

572,549

Population

+0.72%

Annual growth

5571

People / sq mi

$100,117

Median Income

$488,800

Median Home Value

Union County covers 103 sq mi of land at 5571.3 people per square mile.

About Union County, NJ

Union County is a county in New Jersey with a population of 572,549. It ranks #7 among counties in New Jersey by population. The median age is 39.1, in line with the national median. The population is 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

The median household income in Union County is $100,117, above the US median of $74,580. 6.2% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $488,800, with monthly rent averaging $1,664. The homeownership rate of 57.6% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Union County reflects 38.6% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 12.9% of workers primarily work from home, similar to the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 30.7 minutes each way.

Union County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Union County had a population of 537,336 in 2010 and 594,160 in 2024, a 10.6% growth over 14 years. The peak was 594,160 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 0.72%.

594,160

Population (2024)

537,336

Population (2010)

594,160

Peak (2024)

0.72%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	537,336	-	-	estimate
2011	539,918	+2,582	+0.48%	estimate
2012	542,977	+3,059	+0.57%	estimate
2013	546,051	+3,074	+0.57%	estimate
2014	548,052	+2,001	+0.37%	estimate
2015	549,954	+1,902	+0.35%	estimate
2016	552,814	+2,860	+0.52%	estimate
2017	554,695	+1,881	+0.34%	estimate
2018	556,475	+1,780	+0.32%	estimate
2019	556,664	+189	+0.03%	estimate
2020	573,680	+17,016	+3.06%	estimate
2021	572,930	-750	-0.13%	estimate
2022	573,600	+670	+0.12%	estimate
2023	582,080	+8,480	+1.48%	estimate
2024	594,160	+12,080	+2.08%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	41.7%
Black or African American	20.5%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.1%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

39.1

Median Age

50.7%

Female

49.3%

Male

14.8%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

6.2%

5–9

6.4%

10–14

6.9%

15–19

6.4%

20–24

5.9%

25–34

12.4%

35–44

14.0%

45–54

13.8%

55–59

7.2%

60–64

6.0%

65–74

8.7%

75–84

4.2%

85+

1.9%

Children (under 15): 19.5% · Seniors (65+): 14.8%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$100,117$-933 vs state
Mean household income	$145,621
Per-capita income	$51,850
Poverty rate	6.2%-0.8% vs state
Unemployment rate	4.4%
Employment-to-population	64.7%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

22.0%

Finance & real estate

12.9%

Retail trade

10.4%

Manufacturing

8.6%

Information

8.6%

Construction

6.9%

Education & health care

6.5%

Arts, entertainment & food

4.7%

The largest employment sector in Union County is professional & business services, accounting for 22.0% of workers.

How residents commute

9.6%

Drive alone

2.4%

Carpool

62.4%

Public transit

12.9%

Work from home

30.7 min

Avg commute

Housing

$488,800+$61,200 vs state

Median home value

$1,664

Median rent

57.6%

Homeownership rate

211,269

Total housing units

95.5%

Occupied

4.5%

Vacant

42.4%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

87.6%

With health insurance

94.9%

With broadband internet

17.4%

Foreign-born

2.8%

Veterans (18+)

9.0%

With a disability

53.3%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

86.3%

High School+

38.6%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in New Jersey

Newark (307,188)Jersey City (289,691)Paterson (157,660)Elizabeth (135,887)Toms River (93,915)Trenton (89,966)Clifton (89,247)Camden (71,471)Bayonne (70,468)Lakewood (69,884)All New Jersey cities →

Other counties in New Jersey

Bergen County (954,717)Middlesex County (861,535)Essex County (854,130)Hudson County (710,478)Ocean County (646,434)Monmouth County (643,615)Camden County (524,042)Passaic County (518,289)Morris County (510,375)Burlington County (464,226)All New Jersey counties →

Part of New Jersey

New Jersey demographic profile All New Jersey data →

Metro areas in New Jersey

New York (19,756,722)Philadelphia (6,241,882)Allentown (866,764)Trenton (383,286)Atlantic City (369,940)Vineland (152,915)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 →

Common questions about Union County, NJ

What is the population of Union County, NJ?What is the median household income in Union County, NJ?What is the median home value in Union County, NJ?What are the demographics of Union County, NJ?What is the cost of living in Union County, NJ?Is Union County, NJ growing?

Frequently Asked Questions

Union County, New Jersey has a population of 572,549 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 7th-largest county in New Jersey. Population density is 5571 people per square mile.

The population of Union County has grown 10.6% since 2010 (537,336 → 594,160), a +0.72% annualized rate.

The median household income in Union County, New Jersey is $100,117, with mean (average) household income of $145,621 and per-capita income of $51,850. 6.2% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Union County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (41.7%), Black or African American (20.5%), Hispanic or Latino (1.1%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Union County, New Jersey is 39.1 years. Residents are 50.7% female and 49.3% male.

The median home value in Union County is $488,800 and median monthly rent is $1,664. 57.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 211,269 total housing units, 4.5% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Union County, New Jersey is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 22.0% of workers. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

Newark is among the largest cities associated with Union County, New Jersey, with a population of 307,188.