What are the schools like in Union, OR?

Union is served primarily by Union SD 5. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Union?

The median household income in Union, OR is $60,385 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.5%.

What is the weather like in Union, OR?

Union has an average high temperature of 39.5°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 14.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 16.2 inches.

Union, OR Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Union, OR affordable or expensive?

Union's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Union is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $206,600 and the median rent is $965 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Union, OR?

Union has a violent crime rate of 190.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1896.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Union, OR a Good Place to Live?

Union is a small town of 2,209 in Oregon, with a median household income of $60,385 and a 2.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Union stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), 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: 98.3

Union's overall cost of living index is 98.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Union costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Union, OR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$206,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$965	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,385	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Union's violent crime rate is 190.1 per 100,000 residents — 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

190.1 /100k

Property Crime

1896.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Union is served primarily by Union SD 5. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Union, OR	National Avg
School District	Union SD 5	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Union sees average highs of 39.5°F in January and 85.8°F in July, with 14.8 inches of annual precipitation and 16.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Union, OR
Average High — January	39.5°F
Average High — July	85.8°F
Annual Precipitation	14.8"
Annual Snowfall	16.2"

Demographics

Metric	Union, OR	National Avg
Population	2,209	—
Median Age	41.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.1%	6.3%
Under 18	20.1%	22.2%
65 and over	20.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cove, OR 7 mi Island City, OR 12 mi North Powder, OR 13 mi La Grande, OR 13 mi Imbler, OR 18 mi

ZIP Codes in Union

Union, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

97883

Union vs Other Cities

Union, OR vs Cove, OR Union, OR vs Island City, OR Union, OR vs North Powder, OR Union, OR vs La Grande, OR Union, OR vs Imbler, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Union, OR affordable or expensive?

Union's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Union roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $206,600 and median rent is $965/month.

What is the crime rate in Union, OR?

Union's violent crime rate is 190.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1896.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Union?

Public schools in Union are operated by Union SD 5. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 11.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Union, OR a good place to live?

Union, OR has a population of 2,209, a median household income of $60,385, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Union?

Union averages 39.5°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.8 inches with about 16.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Union?

Union, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 97883.

What is the population of Union?

The population of Union, Oregon is 2,209 with a median age of 41.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Union?

Key numbers for living in Union: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $206,600, median household income $60,385, crime index 66 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.