Is Union, MO a Good Place to Live?
Union is a small city of 12,341 in Missouri, with a median household income of $68,864 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.
Strengths: Union stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 96.3Union's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Union costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Union, MO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $184,800 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $846 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $68,864 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageUnion's violent crime rate is 393.7 per 100,000 residents — 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Union is served primarily by UNION R-XI. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Union, MO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | UNION R-XI | — |
| Elementary Schools | 3 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.3:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 89.4% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Union sees average highs of 43.0°F in January and 90.6°F in July, with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation and 14.4 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Union, MO |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 43.0°F |
| Average High — July | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.4" |
Demographics
| Metric | Union, MO | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,341 | — |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 25.2 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 88.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 2.6% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.1% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 13.6% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Union
Union, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: