County profile · Illinois
Union County, IL market data
How Union County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 16,656
- −3.7% since 2020
- Households
- 6,868
- Median household income
- $55,728
- +10.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $131,700
- Jobs located here
- 5,222
- Highest market score
- 61
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #694 of 2,394 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Union County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Union County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Union County has an estimated 16,656 people and 6,868 households. Population estimates put the population change in Union County from 2020 to 2025 at −3.7%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Union County is $55,728, 31% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 10.1%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Union County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 104, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (56).
Of the business types scored in Union County, medical and dental practices (61), gyms and studios (53) and real estate agents and brokers (46) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #694 of 2,394 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet businesses (68% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (55% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Union County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Union County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 61 | #694 of 2,394 | 26 | 37.9 | $333K | 218 | 11 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 53 | #885 of 2,088 | 5 | 7.3 | $956K | 144 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 46 | #1,250 of 2,176 | 5 | 7.3 | Index only | 317 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 46 | #1,253 of 2,229 | 6 | 8.7 | Index only | 333 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 43 | #1,467 of 2,358 | 9 | 13.1 | $2M | 83 | 6 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 42 | #1,517 of 2,405 | 29 | 42.2 | $798K | 120 | 12 |
| Hair salons | 42 | #1,543 of 2,339 | 12 | 17.5 | $495K | 115 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 41 | #1,580 of 2,378 | 15 | 21.8 | $458K | 103 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 40 | #1,372 of 2,063 | 6 | 8.7 | $3.9M | 104 | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 40 | #1,482 of 2,222 | 7 | 10.2 | $3.3M | 108 | 14 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 40 | #1,495 of 2,210 | 10 | 14.6 | $1.2M | 136 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 40 | #1,656 of 2,401 | 27 | 39.3 | $254K | 95 | 10 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 40 | #1,704 of 2,385 | 22 | 32.0 | $270K | 127 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 39 | #1,505 of 2,261 | 5 | 7.3 | $7.6M | 96 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 38 | #1,310 of 1,769 | 5 | 7.3 | $1.2M | 136 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 37 | #1,492 of 2,087 | 8 | 11.6 | $1.5M | 118 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 37 | #1,608 of 2,057 | 8 | 11.6 | $2M | 83 | 6 |
| Pet businesses | 25 | #2,016 of 2,200 | 12 | 17.5 | $417K | 47 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 25 | #2,183 of 2,405 | 75 | 109.2 | $309K | 83 | 29 |
| Funeral homes | 24 | #1,338 of 1,472 | 6 | 8.7 | $214K | 32 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 23 | #2,141 of 2,402 | 16 | 23.3 | $2.4M | 70 | 8 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 22 | #1,624 of 1,707 | 5 | 7.3 | $3.2M | 68 | 6 |
| Pizza | 20 | #2,008 of 2,090 | 9 | 13.1 | $2.6M | 51 | 14 |
| Grocery stores | 16 | #1,933 of 2,070 | 7 | 10.2 | $5.4M | 58 | 5 |
| Insurance agencies | 15 | #2,179 of 2,272 | 15 | 21.8 | $720K | 57 | 7 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.8 | $1.7M | 56 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.8 | $1.5M | 89 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.8 | $1.3M | 46 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $7.7M | 186 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.3M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $744K | 74 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.9M | 121 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $1.6M | 122 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.5M | 148 | 9 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.9M | 92 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $1.7M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.4 | $2.9M | 120 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $3.7M | Too few | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $2.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $4.3M | Too few | 7 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $8.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.9 | $3.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $16.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $12M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $6.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $7.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.5 | $8.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Union County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $6.9M | $1,000 | 104 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $17.8M | $2,592 | 100 |
| Food away from home | $23.2M | $3,371 | 83 |
| Groceries | $38M | $5,534 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $5.9M | $864 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.2M | $325 | 56 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.8M | $696 | 71 |
| Medical and dental services | $8.7M | $1,260 | 98 |
| Pets | $5M | $728 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $12M | $1,746 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $10.8M | $1,572 | 80 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $16.1M | $2,347 | 78 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $7.5M | $1,089 | 77 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $86.5M | $12,595 | 76 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Union County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 16,656−3.7% since 2020
- Households
- 6,868
- Median age
- 43.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 413 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 41
- Median household income
- $55,728+10.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $75,826
- Median home value
- $131,700
- Jobs located here
- 5,222
- Daytime population
- 15,422Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Union County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Union County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Illinois 8
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- Jackson County, IL53,064 people
- Pulaski County, IL5,015 people
- Alexander County, IL4,875 people
- Williamson County, IL66,876 people
- Massac County, IL13,865 people
- Pope County, IL3,739 people
- Franklin County, IL37,323 people
Questions
How fast is Union County, IL growing?
Population estimates put Union County at 16,656 people in 2025, down 3.7% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 6,868 households. Median household income rose 10.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Union County, IL spend?
Households in Union County spend about $86.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $38M on groceries and $23.2M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Union County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 104, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (56).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Union County, IL?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Union County are for medical and dental practices (61), gyms and studios (53) and real estate agents and brokers (46). Union County ranks #694 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
How does Union County, IL compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Union County is $55,728 a year, 31% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $131,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Union County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet businesses (68% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (55% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 25 of the 56 business types have a score in Union County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Union County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Union County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Union County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.