The typical owner-occupied home in Union County is worth about $529,200, 16% above the New Jersey median of $454,400 and 59% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 1.89% of their home's value, lower than the New Jersey rate of 2.11%. The median household earns $103,202 a year, so the median home costs 5.1 times the median income (4.4 times for New Jersey). 57% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Union County at a glance
| Union County | New Jersey | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $529,200 | $454,400 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $10,001 | $9,590 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.89% | 2.11% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $103,202 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 57% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 67% | 64% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $3,203 | $2,829 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 23.5% | 22.9% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,730 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 30.8% | 30.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1956 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.3% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 579,290 | 9,343,809 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Union County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Union County home of $529,200 with 20% down costs about $3,902 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,784, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $167,227 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 45% of the median Union County household income of $103,202; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $327,000.
The median rent here is $1,730 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,172 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $105,840 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $423,360 |
| Principal and interest | $2,848 |
| Property taxes (1.89% a year) | $833 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $220 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,902 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $18,522 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $519,615 |
| Principal and interest | $3,495 |
| Property taxes (1.89% a year) | $833 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $220 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $234 |
| Total per month | $4,784 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Union County
What is the median home value in Union County?
About $529,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Union County?
Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 1.89% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Union County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,902 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $167,227 a year.
More about Union County
- Mortgage Refinance in Union County
- Debt Relief in Union County
- Home Equity Loans in Union County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data