Very AffordableNear National AverageChoice Charter Schools
Median Income
$59,375
household / year
Median Home Value
$72,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$633
gross / month
Cost of Living
85
national avg = 100
Is Union, IA a Good Place to Live?
Union is a small town of 421 in Iowa, with a median household income of $59,375
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Union stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Union is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Union 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: 85.1
Union's overall cost of living index is 85.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Union costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Union, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$72,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$633
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,375
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Union's violent crime rate is 552.1 per 100,000 residents
— 45% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
552.1 /100k
Property Crime
1080.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Union is served primarily by Choice Charter Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.9:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Union, IA
National Avg
School District
Choice Charter Schools
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Union sees average highs of 25.8°F in January
and 83.5°F in July,
with 37.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 33.2 inches of snow per year.
Union's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Union roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $72,800 and median rent is $633/month.
Union's violent crime rate is 552.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1080.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Union are operated by Choice Charter Schools.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.9:1. 14.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Union, IA has a population of 421, a median household income of $59,375, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Union averages 25.8°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.8 inches
with about 33.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Union, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50258.
The population of Union, Iowa is 421 with a median age of 48.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Union: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $72,800, median household income $59,375, crime index 108 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Union side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.