The typical owner-occupied home in Union County is worth about $301,100, 17% above the South Dakota median of $257,400 and 9% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,317 a year in property taxes, about 1.10% of their home's value, close to the South Dakota rate of 1.06%. The median household earns $89,636 a year, so the median home costs 3.4 times the median income (3.4 times for South Dakota). 73% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 60% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Union County at a glance
| Union County | South Dakota | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $301,100 | $257,400 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,317 | $2,724 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.10% | 1.06% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $89,636 | $75,081 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 73% | 69% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 60% | 54% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,758 | $1,680 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.7% | 20.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,069 | $946 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 24.6% | 25.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1993 | 1980 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 3.7% | 10.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 17,081 | 907,428 | 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 $301,100 with 20% down costs about $2,022 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,523, 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 $86,652 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 27% of the median Union County household income of $89,636; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $311,000.
The median rent here is $1,069 a month, so owning the median home costs about $953 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $60,220 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $240,880 |
| Principal and interest | $1,620 |
| Property taxes (1.10% a year) | $276 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $125 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,022 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $10,538 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $295,646 |
| Principal and interest | $1,989 |
| Property taxes (1.10% a year) | $276 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $125 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $133 |
| Total per month | $2,523 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Union County
What is the median home value in Union County?
About $301,100 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 $3,317 a year, which is about 1.10% 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 $2,022 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $86,652 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