Overview / New Jersey

Union

county · 15 metrics · 5y change · report

Median gross rent
$1,664
+29.0% over 5y · rank 2/21
Median household income
$100,117
+24.8% over 5y · rank 4/21
Median owner-occupied home value
$488,800
+33.1% over 5y · rank 3/21
Total population
572,549
+3.3% over 5y · rank 14/21
Renters paying over 30% of income on housing
0.49
-2.0% over 5y · rank 9/21
Area median income (HUD)
$130,300
+22.9% over 5y · rank 5/21
Low-income limit, 80% AMI, 4-person household
$97,800
+24.6% over 5y · rank 6/21
Net migration, tax returns
-2,824
-63.2% over 5y · rank 17/21
Residential units permitted
1,749
-28.4% over 5y · rank 16/21
Home value to area median income
4.66
+12.4% over 5y · rank 6/21
Home value to household income
5.64
+7.9% over 5y · rank 5/21
Annual rent to household income
0.27
+3.1% over 5y · rank 3/16
Unemployment rate
4.7%
-33.8% over 5y · rank 7/21
Home value index, single-family
$641,174
+28.7% over 5y · rank 20/21
Observed rent index, all homes
$2,515
+30.4% over 5y · rank 14/17

Home value index, single-family

Home value index, single-family · 318 observations
$171,706$426,348$680,9912000-012026-06

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PeriodValueSourceMatched by
2026-06-01$641,174zillow_zhvifips
2026-05-01$642,322zillow_zhvifips
2026-04-01$644,732zillow_zhvifips
2026-03-01$645,868zillow_zhvifips
2026-02-01$644,166zillow_zhvifips
2026-01-01$641,428zillow_zhvifips
2025-12-01$638,865zillow_zhvifips
2025-11-01$635,957zillow_zhvifips
2025-10-01$633,753zillow_zhvifips
2025-09-01$632,566zillow_zhvifips
2025-08-01$632,308zillow_zhvifips
2025-07-01$632,742zillow_zhvifips
2025-06-01$633,879zillow_zhvifips
2025-05-01$633,686zillow_zhvifips
2025-04-01$632,133zillow_zhvifips
2025-03-01$627,990zillow_zhvifips
2025-02-01$624,336zillow_zhvifips
2025-01-01$622,783zillow_zhvifips
2024-12-01$622,496zillow_zhvifips
2024-11-01$622,219zillow_zhvifips
2024-10-01$619,390zillow_zhvifips
2024-09-01$615,822zillow_zhvifips
2024-08-01$612,216zillow_zhvifips
2024-07-01$609,232zillow_zhvifips

Observed rent index, all homes

Observed rent index, all homes · 138 observations
$1,391$2,000$2,6092015-012026-06

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PeriodValueSourceMatched by
2026-06-01$2,515zillow_zorifips
2026-05-01$2,517zillow_zorifips
2026-04-01$2,496zillow_zorifips
2026-03-01$2,499zillow_zorifips
2026-02-01$2,506zillow_zorifips
2026-01-01$2,519zillow_zorifips
2025-12-01$2,525zillow_zorifips
2025-11-01$2,507zillow_zorifips
2025-10-01$2,487zillow_zorifips
2025-09-01$2,465zillow_zorifips
2025-08-01$2,463zillow_zorifips
2025-07-01$2,466zillow_zorifips
2025-06-01$2,463zillow_zorifips
2025-05-01$2,458zillow_zorifips
2025-04-01$2,455zillow_zorifips
2025-03-01$2,454zillow_zorifips
2025-02-01$2,438zillow_zorifips
2025-01-01$2,433zillow_zorifips
2024-12-01$2,423zillow_zorifips
2024-11-01$2,427zillow_zorifips
2024-10-01$2,430zillow_zorifips
2024-09-01$2,419zillow_zorifips
2024-08-01$2,410zillow_zorifips
2024-07-01$2,394zillow_zorifips

Median household income

Median household income · 5 observations
$78,604$90,158$101,7112015-012019-01

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PeriodValueSourceMatched by
2019-01-01$100,117census_acsfips
2018-01-01$95,000census_acsfips
2017-01-01$87,369census_acsfips
2016-01-01$82,644census_acsfips
2015-01-01$80,198census_acsfips

Current values

Each metric’s most recent reading, ranked against peers by value rather than by change. The MOD-IV assessment aggregates appear only here: they are a single published snapshot, and a change needs two observations.

MetricValueRankAs ofSource
Median gross rent$1,66410 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Median household income$100,11710 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Median owner-occupied home value$488,8008 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Total population572,5497 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Renters paying over 30% of income on housing0.499 / 212023-12-31census_acs
Area median income (HUD)$130,3006 / 212024-12-31hud
Low-income limit, 80% AMI, 4-person household$97,8005 / 212024-12-31hud
Net migration, tax returns-2,82418 / 212022-12-31irs_migration
Residential units permitted1,74910 / 212024-12-31census_permits
Home value to area median income4.6615 / 212024-12-31hip_derived
Home value to household income5.6417 / 212023-12-31hip_derived
Annual rent to household income0.2711 / 182023-12-31hip_derived
Unemployment rate4.7%14 / 212025-12-31bls
Home value index, single-family$641,1749 / 212026-06-30zillow_zhvi
Observed rent index, all homes$2,5159 / 192026-06-30zillow_zori

Interpretation

written by Gemma 4 E4B · ollama

The underlying figures have changed since this was written. Treat it as out of date until it is regenerated.

Union County has experienced significant appreciation across its housing metrics. Over the observed windows, the median owner-occupied home value increased by +33.1%, ranking it third among peer regions. Similarly, the median gross rent rose by +29.0%, placing the county second in this category. These strong increases are reflected in the Home value index, single-family, which saw a +28.7% change, though this metric ranks 20th of 21, suggesting it is at the worst end of the peer cohort.

Despite the rapid growth in housing costs, the median household income increased by +24.8%, and the annual rent to household income ratio rose by +3.1%, ranking the county third among peer regions. The unemployment rate also saw a notable decline of -33.8% over its window. However, the underlying supply metrics show contraction, with residential units permitted decreasing by -28.4%, ranking 16th of 21. Furthermore, the net migration rate declined sharply by -63.2%, ranking 17th of 21.

When interpreting these figures, it is important to note several caveats. The analysis relies on data from multiple sources, including the American Community Survey, where consecutive 5-year estimates overlap by four years, meaning short windows may understate the true separation. Additionally, the Zillow Observed rent index, while showing a +30.4% increase, rests on a thinner base and ranks against a smaller cohort than the home value figures. Finally, while the median household income increased by $24.8%, the median gross rent increased by $29.0%, indicating that housing costs are rising at a faster pace than household income.

Generated by a local language model from this region's analysis packet. It is interpretation of computed metrics, not a measurement, and not advice.

Caveats