Is Union City, CA a Good Place to Live?
Union City is a mid-sized city of 69,502 in California, with a median household income of $138,013 and a 4.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 118 (US average = 100), which is 18% above the national average.
Strengths: Union City stands out for solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Union City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Union City city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 118.2Union City's overall cost of living index is 118.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Union City costs roughly 18% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Union City, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,006,600 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,593 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $138,013 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageUnion City's violent crime rate is 408.0 per 100,000 residents — 7% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Union City is served primarily by New Haven Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 24.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Union City, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | New Haven Unified | — |
| Elementary Schools | 7 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 3 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 24.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 87.1% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Union City sees average highs of 58.6°F in January and 77.9°F in July, with 15.9 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Union City, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 58.6°F |
| Average High — July | 77.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Union City, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 69,502 | — |
| Median Age | 41.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 33.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 17.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 4.8% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.9% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 55.8% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 17.9% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Union City
Union City, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: