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Union County, IA

8 cities and towns and 7 ZIP codes in Union County, Iowa.

Population

11,993

Land area

424sq mi

People per sq mi

28

ZIP codes

7

Cities and towns in Union County

Full map

Union County at a glance

  • Union County is 51% less dense than Iowa as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $57,772 a year, 23% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $122,000 (41% below Iowa) and median rent is $721 a month.
  • The biggest population centers are Creston (7,435), Afton (817) and Lorimor (319).

Local data for Union County, IA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Union County, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$57,772

Poverty rate

12.4%

Median home value

$122,000

Prices +11.0% in a year

Median rent

$721/mo

Homeownership

72.1%

Bachelor's or higher

23.3%

Median age

40.5

Average commute

15.8 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (3,017), Irish Americans (1,793), Swedish Americans (462).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans

Details

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Sep 2026, 0.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$52,186

5,822 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$53,805

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$90.1M

FY 2026, $7,424 per person

PPP loans

$29.3M

1,054 loans, 3,202 jobs reported

Campaign donations

$54.6K

Itemized, 2026 cycle

EconomyFederal spendingPPP loans

How people get to work

Union County, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone80.0%
  • Carpooled9.9%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked4.6%
  • Bicycle0.1%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
  • Worked from home4.6%

Average one-way commute: 15.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Union County, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: drought

Storm events since 1996

515

Most often thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

14

0.2% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

85° / 11°F

37.9 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone6 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Union County, IA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

37.2%

U.S. 33.3% +3.9 pts

Diabetes

12.1%

U.S. 12.1% about the same

Smoking

15.8%

U.S. 12.8% +3.0 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

7.3%

U.S. 11.1% -3.8 pts

Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Union County

Population shown

·

Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Union County, IA?
Creston is the largest city or town in Union County, with about 7,435 residents.
How many ZIP codes are in Union County?
Union County includes 7 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 50149, 50254, 50801, 50830, 50831.
What is the population of Union County, IA?
About 11,993 people live in Union County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What counties border Union County?
Union County borders Madison County, Clarke County, Decatur County, Adair County, Taylor County, Ringgold County, Adams County.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023