Skip to Main Content
© Mapbox / © OpenStreetMap
County0

Union County

#9 in Best Counties to Live in New Jersey
  • B+
    Overall Grade
  • County in New Jersey
  • 36 reviews
    B+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      D-
    4. Nightlife
      A+
    5. Good for Families
      B+
    6. Diversity
      A+
    7. Jobs
      C+
    8. Weather
      C+
    9. Cost of Living
      D-
    10. Health & Fitness
      A+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      B-
    View Full Report Card
    Union County is located in New Jersey with a population of 557,320. In Union County, most residents own their homes. In Union County there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Union County and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Union County are above average.
    Population
    557,320

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $351,800
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,219
    National
    $949
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      41%
    • Own
      59%
    Sponsored Mortgage Options for Union County
    Get Rates
    • $0 Lender Fee on Home Loans Limited Time Only
    • Biggest Home Loan Sale Ever. Low interest rates. Get a quote today!
    Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. There are many additional borrowing options available.

    Union County Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C+
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      139.8
      282.7
    • Murder
      3
      6.1
    • Rape
      16.9
      40.7
    • Robbery
      148.8
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      287.5
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,347.8
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      256.7
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      13%
    • 10-17 years
      11%
    • 18-24 years
      9%
    • 25-34 years
      13%
    • 35-44 years
      14%
    • 45-54 years
      15%
    • 55-64 years
      12%
    • 65+ years
      14%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      14%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      21%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      23%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      29%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      14%
      13%

    Working in Union County

    Jobs
    C+
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $73,376
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Union County
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

      Union County Reviews

      36 reviews
      All Categories
      There's a very big difference between the different towns/cities in Union County. Cities like Elizabeth and Rahway have more diversity, but also frequently face economic and crime struggles. Then there's the wealthy towns such as Westfield/Summit/Berkeley Heights. It's like a completely different area compared to Elizabeth and Rahway. The majority of their population is white and makes $100,000+. I have been lucky enough to explore many of the towns that I was not familiar with growing up in UC, and there's always more to discover.
      Start Your Review of Union County
      Rate It!
      I am born and raised in Union, NJ. I love this town and my friends from here too! Where I live is perfect because I live right near so many places. I am just minutes away from two parks, an emergency room, a gas station, two strips of stores, and Union surrounds about five other towns that also have great places to go. I believe my town is also very safe and friendly. The diversity is also very strong.
      The schools there are very interesting yet very diverse, but overall very family friendly. A lot of different cultures with food, events, the whole nine yards. Honestly one of the best counties in Jersey