CountyScore

Union County

New Jersey · NJ

#18 in New Jersey
46.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Union County, New Jersey

Union underperforms the national norm

Union County's composite score of 42.3 falls noticeably below the national median of 50.0, signaling challenges across livability dimensions. The county ranks in the lower half of U.S. counties, suggesting limited overall competitive advantages.

Below the New Jersey average

Union's score of 42.3 trails the state average of 45.0, placing it among New Jersey's weaker-performing counties. Within the state, Union faces stiff competition from higher-ranked peers on most livability measures.

Moderate taxes and urban connectivity

Union's tax score of 44.7 and effective tax rate of 2.046% are competitive, offering tax efficiency relative to New Jersey peers. The county's median household income of $100,117 suggests a working- and middle-class base with stable economic activity.

High housing costs and lower incomes

Union faces a troubling squeeze: median home values of $488,800 and rents of $1,664/month are expensive, while the income score of 48.7 suggests limited household earnings to support that cost. Safety, health, school, and environmental data remain unavailable, obscuring other quality-of-life factors.

Best for urban professionals with modest means

Union County suits professionals working in nearby urban centers who need transit access and can navigate high housing costs on middle-class incomes. It's less ideal for families prioritizing affordability or those seeking a lifestyle beyond commuting convenience.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax44.7Cost38.9SafetyComing SoonHealth71.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome48.7Risk4.5WaterComing Soon
🏛44.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠38.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼48.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤71.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡4.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Union County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Hudson County
New Jersey
46.8
Median income: $90,032
Essex County
New Jersey
45.7
Median income: $76,712
Mercer County
New Jersey
47.8
Median income: $96,333
Camden County
New Jersey
44.9
Median income: $86,384
Gloucester County
New Jersey
48.2
Median income: $102,807

Deep Dives

Union County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Union County

via TaxByCounty

Union's rate outpaces most U.S. counties

Union County's effective tax rate of 2.05% nearly doubles the national median of 0.95%, placing it in the top 25% of counties for property tax burden. The median tax bill of $10,001 is 272% above the national median of $2,690, driven by Union's high home values of $488,800.

Slightly below state average for NJ

Union County's effective rate of 2.05% falls slightly below New Jersey's state average of 2.21%, making it one of the state's more favorable tax environments. However, the median tax bill of $10,001 exceeds the state average of $8,512 due to Union's above-average property valuations.

The lowest rate among peers

Union's 2.05% effective rate is the lowest among comparable regional counties—Warren (2.52%), Sussex (2.47%), and Salem (3.03%). Only Somerset (1.91%) offers a more favorable tax rate in this geographic area.

A $488,800 home costs $10,001 yearly

The median Union County home valued at $488,800 generates an annual property tax bill of $10,001. Both mortgage holders and outright owners pay the same amount, indicating standardized assessment practices throughout the county.

Union County homeowners should verify assessments

With some of the state's highest home values, Union County properties occasionally carry inflated assessments that don't reflect actual market conditions. Filing a tax appeal is free and can reduce annual bills, especially for properties that may be overvalued.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Union County

via CostByCounty

Union stretches affordability for renters

Union County's 19.9% rent-to-income ratio marks the threshold where housing becomes a genuine financial burden, slightly exceeding the national stress point. With a median household income of $100,117 and rents of $1,664, Union's affordability challenge is steeper than most American counties.

Union ranks least affordable in cohort

Union's 19.9% rent-to-income ratio edges above New Jersey's 19.1% state average, making it less affordable than most comparable counties statewide. This slight disadvantage reflects Union's urban character and proximity to New York City.

Union's urban premium shows in rents

Union rents of $1,664 exceed every other county in this group except Somerset, while home values of $488,800 rank second-highest. The county's proximity to Newark and Manhattan commands a premium that reduces relative affordability.

Union housing costs approach one-fifth income

Renters spend $1,664 monthly while homeowners pay $2,551, with rents consuming 19.9% of the $100,117 median household income. Homeownership reaches even higher cost burdens at roughly 30.6% of income, straining owner-occupied household budgets.

Union rewards transit-dependent relocators

If you're moving to Union for urban job access and robust public transit, factor the higher housing costs into your relocation decision and compare against salary premiums in dense employment centers. Remote workers should consider more affordable neighboring counties instead.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Union County

via IncomeByCounty

Union earns 34% above America's median income

Union County's median household income of $100,117 exceeds the national median of $74,755 by 33.9%, reflecting solid middle-to-upper-class earning power. Union's income advantage places it in the upper quarter of U.S. counties despite regional cost-of-living pressures.

Matches New Jersey's statewide income average

Union's $100,117 median income virtually mirrors New Jersey's state average of $100,891, making Union a representative New Jersey county by income standards. This alignment reflects Union's diverse population and economic base across its municipalities.

Union bridges the income middle ground

Union earns $50,843 less than Somerset but $5,521 more than Warren County, positioning it as a bridge between New Jersey's wealthiest and more modest-income regions. This income level reflects Union's role as a commercial and residential hub in the state's northeastern corridor.

Housing costs present affordability challenge

Union's 19.9% rent-to-income ratio is the highest among these five counties, signaling early affordability stress for renters. The median home value of $488,800 requires substantial household income to afford comfortably, demanding careful financial planning.

Plan strategically amid higher housing costs

Union households earning at state-average levels face above-average housing costs that require disciplined financial planning to build wealth. Prioritize maximizing employer retirement benefits, consider first-time homebuyer programs, and explore investment strategies that capitalize on home equity appreciation in this strong real estate market.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Union County

via HealthByCounty

Union's Life Expectancy Solid Overall

At 79.3 years, Union County residents exceed the U.S. average of 78.8 years, though the county's 15.7% poor/fair health rate—the highest among its peers—suggests underlying health disparities. This gap between life expectancy and self-reported health signals uneven health experiences across neighborhoods.

Slightly Above State, With Health Concerns

Union's 79.3-year life expectancy nudges above New Jersey's 78.5-year average, yet its 15.7% poor/fair health rate significantly exceeds the state's patterns. The county's higher health burden warrants targeted prevention and access initiatives.

Mixed Position Within Region

Union residents live slightly longer than Warren County (78.3 years) but shorter than Somerset (81.8 years), placing it in the mid-tier. At 62 primary care providers per 100K, Union offers more access than Salem but trails Somerset's density by half.

Insurance Gap Threatens Healthcare Access

Union's 12.6% uninsured rate—68% higher than the state average of 7.5%—means roughly one in eight residents lack stable coverage. With 62 primary care and 255 mental health providers per 100K, the infrastructure exists, but insurance barriers keep thousands from using it daily.

Close the Coverage Gap in Union

Nearly 13% of Union residents lack health insurance, creating real barriers to preventive and emergency care. Visit nj.gov/humanservices or call 1-877-NJ-COVER to enroll in Medicaid, marketplace plans, or local health center programs—coverage changes lives.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Union County

via RiskByCounty

Union County faces well-above-average natural hazards

Union County scores 95.48 on the composite risk scale, earning a relatively high risk rating that significantly exceeds national averages for disaster exposure. This elevated standing reflects Union's concentrated vulnerability to multiple major hazard types, particularly in urban and coastal contexts.

Union ranks as New Jersey's riskiest county

At 95.48, Union County leads all New Jersey counties in composite disaster risk, well above the state average of 90.81. Union's elevated rank reflects a dangerous convergence of flood, tornado, earthquake, and hurricane threats concentrated in one county.

Union significantly outranks all surrounding counties

Union (95.48) substantially exceeds risk levels in Somerset (90.94), Salem (76.53), Sussex (77.45), and Warren (80.76), making it distinctly the most hazard-exposed county in the region. No nearby county approaches Union's composite risk profile.

Flooding and tornadoes pose critical threats

Union's flood risk reaches 97.52—among the highest in the nation—while tornado risk climbs to 87.15, reflecting its vulnerable urban and coastal geography. Earthquake risk also spikes to 95.07, and hurricane exposure registers at 88.99, creating a perfect storm of overlapping hazards.

Flood insurance is non-negotiable in Union County

Given Union's exceptional 97.52 flood risk score, flood insurance is essential for all residents, even those outside designated FEMA flood zones. Homeowners should also invest in structural reinforcements against severe weather, keep emergency supplies stocked, and maintain a detailed disaster response plan for their family.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.