Union County scores 77.7 on the CountyScore composite index, the highest among these eight counties and 55% above the national median of 50.0. This exceptional performance positions the county among the nation's most livable communities.
2 / 5
Florida's livability champion
At 77.7, Union County significantly exceeds Florida's state average of 69.4 by 8.3 points, ranking it among the state's very best performers. The county stands out as a genuine Florida livability leader and model.
3 / 5
Unmatched taxes and housing value
Union County leads with a tax score of 85.9 and the lowest effective tax rate at 0.580%—the best in this group. The cost score of 84.5 and median gross rent of $846/month provide exceptional affordability, with median home values of just $160,400.
4 / 5
Lower incomes and data gaps
The income score of 25.8 reflects median household income of $64,922, below state and national medians. Safety, health, school quality, and environmental data remain unavailable, preventing a complete assessment beyond economic metrics.
5 / 5
Ultimate destination for affordability seekers
Union County is ideal for retirees, fixed-income households, and remote workers seeking maximum purchasing power and minimal tax burden. The county offers unparalleled value and represents the best overall livability-to-cost ratio in this analysis.
Union County scores 77.7 on the CountyScore composite index, the highest among these eight counties and 55% above the national median of 50.0. This exceptional performance positions the county among the nation's most livable communities.
Florida's livability champion
At 77.7, Union County significantly exceeds Florida's state average of 69.4 by 8.3 points, ranking it among the state's very best performers. The county stands out as a genuine Florida livability leader and model.
Unmatched taxes and housing value
Union County leads with a tax score of 85.9 and the lowest effective tax rate at 0.580%—the best in this group. The cost score of 84.5 and median gross rent of $846/month provide exceptional affordability, with median home values of just $160,400.
Lower incomes and data gaps
The income score of 25.8 reflects median household income of $64,922, below state and national medians. Safety, health, school quality, and environmental data remain unavailable, preventing a complete assessment beyond economic metrics.
Ultimate destination for affordability seekers
Union County is ideal for retirees, fixed-income households, and remote workers seeking maximum purchasing power and minimal tax burden. The county offers unparalleled value and represents the best overall livability-to-cost ratio in this analysis.
Score breakdown
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🏛85.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Union County's effective rate of 0.580% is the lowest among all eight profiled counties and well below the national median. The median annual tax of $931 reflects Union's combination of a rock-bottom tax rate and modest home valuations ($160,400), making it exceptionally affordable for property owners.
Union leads Florida with the state's lowest tax rate
At 0.580%, Union County's effective rate falls significantly below Florida's 0.731% statewide average, offering homeowners a substantial tax advantage. The median bill of $931 is 51% below the state median of $1,885, reflecting both the county's minimal tax rate and modest home values.
Union taxes less than any nearby county profiled
Union's 0.580% rate substantially undercuts Suwannee County's 0.727% and Taylor County's 0.723%, making Union the tax leader in its tier. Even accounting for similar home values, Union residents pay roughly $200–250 less annually than their Suwannee or Taylor neighbors.
A $160,400 home costs about $931 yearly
The median Union home, valued at $160,400, incurs an annual property tax of just $931. With mortgage taxes included, homeowners pay $1,368; without a mortgage, the bill drops to $652.
Union homeowners can still benefit from appeals
Property tax appeals are free in Florida, and even in low-tax counties like Union, some homeowners discover their assessments are too high. Challenging your valuation costs nothing and could provide additional relief.
Union County's 15.6% rent-to-income ratio ranks among the lowest in the nation, with median rents of just $846 against a median household income of $64,922. Housing here remains remarkably accessible despite below-national-average incomes.
Florida's second-most affordable county
Union's 15.6% rent-to-income ratio trails only Suwannee's 18.4%, making it one of Florida's housing bargains. The median rent of $846 ranks second-lowest statewide, well below the state average of $1,233.
Beats Suwannee and Taylor on affordability
Union's 15.6% ratio edges out Suwannee (18.4%) and Taylor (23.4%), despite similar absolute rents of $846 versus $849 and $878. Union's relative income strength gives it the best affordability ratio among the state's rural counties.
Unbeatable rent-to-income alignment
Renters pay $846 monthly (15.6% of income) and homeowners just $569 (10.5% of income), the most balanced housing cost structure in our comparison. The median home value of $160,400 makes ownership dreams achievable for modest earners.
Union: Florida's hidden affordability gem
Households earning $60,000–$75,000 should seriously explore Union for its unmatched rent-to-income ratio and homeownership access. Those seeking small-town stability and economic viability should prioritize Union over even more remote Taylor County.
Union County's median household income of $64,922 runs 13% below the U.S. median of $74,755. The county faces earnings headwinds compared to national trends, though the gap is narrower than some rural Florida counties.
Below-average within Florida
Union County's median household income of $64,922 falls $546 short of Florida's state average of $65,468. The county sits in the lower-middle tier of Florida's 67 counties, reflecting limited high-wage employment options.
Mid-range earnings locally
Union's $64,922 median income underperforms Sumter County ($73,297) but edges ahead of Suwannee County ($55,479). The county faces stiff competition from better-performing neighbors to the south and east.
Housing costs are favorable
Union County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.6% ranks among Florida's best, keeping housing expenses well below the 30% threshold. A median home value of $160,400 is highly affordable for households earning $64,922.
Leverage low housing costs
Union households enjoying low housing burdens can redirect savings toward retirement accounts and investment vehicles. The favorable rent-to-income ratio creates opportunities to build long-term wealth despite modest median incomes.
Union County faces Florida's bleakest health outlook
At 67.9 years, Union County's life expectancy is nearly 8.5 years below the U.S. average of 76.4 years—the lowest in Florida. With 22.6% of residents reporting poor or fair health, the county confronts a health crisis requiring urgent intervention.
Worst health outcomes in all of Florida
Union County's 67.9-year life expectancy is 7.9 years below Florida's 75.8-year average—a catastrophic gap—and its 22.6% poor/fair health rate is the highest in the state. Though 10.6% are uninsured (better than state average), outcomes suggest deeper structural health barriers.
Dramatically worse than all comparable counties
Union County residents live 13.1 years fewer than St. Johns County (81.0 years) and 9.8 years fewer than Sumter County (78.4 years). Its 22.6% poor/fair health rate is 1.1 percentage points worse than even Taylor County's crisis-level rates.
Critical shortage of all healthcare providers
Union County has only 31 primary care doctors per 100,000 residents and 58 mental health providers per 100,000—among Florida's most severe shortages. Even the 10.6% with insurance struggle to find accessible care in this rural healthcare desert.
Health insurance is step one toward survival
Union County's uninsured residents cannot delay: call 211 or visit FloridaHealthFinder.gov immediately to enroll in Medicaid or ACA coverage. Every person deserves insurance protection, and for Union County's most vulnerable residents, coverage access to distant providers is literally a matter of life expectancy.
Union County's composite risk score of 10.88 places it in the "Very Low" category, making it one of America's safest counties for natural disaster risk. This remarkably low exposure reflects Union's inland, sparsely populated character and distance from major storm-prone zones.
Florida's lowest-risk county by far
Union's 10.88 score is a stark outlier compared to Florida's 75.74 state average, making it by far the state's safest county. Its flood risk of 11.07 is extraordinarily low, reflecting the county's inland topography and minimal precipitation hazard.
Dramatically safer than all peers
Union's 10.88 risk score is incomparably lower than any neighboring county, including Taylor (65.43), Suwannee (71.34), and Sumter (87.60). The county stands alone as a natural disaster safety outlier in northern Florida.
Wildfire and hurricane risks remain minimal
Even Union's highest risk category—wildfire at 73.86—remains well below most Florida counties' overall risk scores. Hurricane risk of 81.48 and tornado risk of 27.70 round out a hazard profile that is exceptionally benign by state and national standards.
Standard homeowners insurance suffices
Union County residents can rely on basic homeowners insurance without the enhanced coverage demands facing higher-risk Florida counties. A standard emergency kit and evacuation plan provide adequate preparedness for this exceptionally low-risk area.