County profile · Iowa
Union County, IA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Union County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 11,829
- −2.5% since 2020
- Households
- 5,116
- Median household income
- $57,772
- +15.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $122,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,571
- Highest market score
- 65
- Doctors, dentists and clinics, #531 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
An estimated 11,829 people live in Union County, in 5,116 households. Population estimates show Union County declined 2.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Union County is $57,772 a year, 28% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 15.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Union County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 110, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (49).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Union County are for medical and dental practices (65), gas stations (55) and auto repair shops (53). Union County ranks #531 of 2,394 scored counties for medical and dental practices.
For its number of households, Union County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for hair salons (59% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (51% 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 | 65 | #531 of 2,394 | 21 | 41.0 | $298K | 195 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 55 | #942 of 2,358 | 5 | 9.8 | $2.8M | 119 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 53 | #1,037 of 2,378 | 8 | 15.6 | $677K | 152 | 7 |
| Auto repair and car care | 52 | #1,129 of 2,401 | 19 | 37.1 | $285K | 106 | 7 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 51 | #1,092 of 2,222 | 5 | 9.8 | $3.3M | 109 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 48 | #1,274 of 2,402 | 8 | 15.6 | $3.5M | 103 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 33 | #1,615 of 2,087 | 6 | 11.7 | $1.4M | 113 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 32 | #1,786 of 2,210 | 9 | 17.6 | $956K | 109 | 4 |
| Pizza | 28 | #1,848 of 2,090 | 8 | 15.6 | $2.1M | 41 | 7 |
| Real estate | 27 | #2,147 of 2,229 | 16 | 31.3 | Index only | 92 | 4 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 24 | #2,205 of 2,405 | 50 | 97.7 | $332K | 90 | 23 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 20 | #1,978 of 2,063 | 7 | 13.7 | $2.4M | 64 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 18 | #2,138 of 2,200 | 8 | 15.6 | $446K | 51 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 18 | #2,167 of 2,176 | 15 | 29.3 | Index only | 78 | 4 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 18 | #2,339 of 2,405 | 28 | 54.7 | $593K | 89 | 13 |
| Spas and skin care | 17 | #1,721 of 1,769 | 6 | 11.7 | $720K | 82 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 17 | #2,332 of 2,385 | 28 | 54.7 | $154K | 73 | 6 |
| Insurance agencies | 14 | #2,190 of 2,272 | 10 | 19.5 | $864K | 69 | 7 |
| Gyms | 12 | #1,734 of 1,792 | 5 | 9.8 | $648K | 50 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 11 | #2,053 of 2,088 | 10 | 19.5 | $324K | 49 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 10 | #2,311 of 2,339 | 19 | 37.1 | $227K | 53 | 6 |
| Child care and preschools | 3 | #1,608 of 1,611 | 8 | 15.6 | $184K | 18 | 7 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $1.6M | 159 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $185K | 27 | 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $3M | 123 | 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.8 | $810K | 40 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.8M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $2.1M | 87 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $9.3M | 119 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $4M | 84 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.8M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.2M | 44 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $8.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $2.7M | Too few | 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $14M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $2.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $2.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $3.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $1.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $5.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $3.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $6.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $6.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $12M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $3.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 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 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 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 | $5.4M | $1,058 | 110 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $14.2M | $2,768 | 107 |
| Food away from home | $16.6M | $3,244 | 80 |
| Groceries | $28M | $5,477 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $4.3M | $844 | 84 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.5M | $287 | 49 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3.2M | $633 | 64 |
| Medical and dental services | $6.3M | $1,223 | 95 |
| Pets | $3.6M | $697 | 77 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $8.6M | $1,682 | 82 |
| Vehicle insurance | $8.6M | $1,689 | 86 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $12M | $2,341 | 78 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $5.5M | $1,066 | 75 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $63.5M | $12,418 | 75 |
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
- 11,829−2.5% since 2020
- Households
- 5,116
- Median age
- 41.3
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 424 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 28
- Median household income
- $57,772+15.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $71,876
- Median home value
- $122,000
- Jobs located here
- 5,571
- Daytime population
- 12,097Residents 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 Iowa 8
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- Adair County, IA7,460 people
- Ringgold County, IA4,645 people
- Madison County, IA16,926 people
- Taylor County, IA5,868 people
- Clarke County, IA9,662 people
- Decatur County, IA7,759 people
- Cass County, IA13,096 people
Questions
How fast is Union County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Union County at 11,829 people in 2025, down 2.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 5,116 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 15.8%, before inflation.
How much do households in Union County, IA spend?
Households in Union County spend about $63.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $28M on groceries and $16.6M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Union County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 110, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (49).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Union County, IA?
Of the business types scored in Union County, medical and dental practices (65), gas stations (55) and auto repair shops (53) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For medical and dental practices, that ranks #531 of 2,394 scored counties.
How does Union County, IA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Union County is $57,772, 28% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 2.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $122,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for hair salons (59% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (51% 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. 22 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.