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West Union, IA
City in Fayette County, Iowa.
Population
2,489
Land area
2.7sq mi
People per sq mi
906
ZIP codes
0
West Union and its ZIP codes
West Union at a glance
- West Union is about 16 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 144th among 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- The median household income is $53,617, 29% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $121,000 (42% below Iowa) and median rent is $967 a month.
Local data for West Union, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
West Union, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$53,617
Poverty rate
11.6%
Median home value
$121,000
Median rent
$967/mo
Homeownership
62.2%
Bachelor's or higher
23.6%
Median age
41.7
Average commute
18.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (956), Norwegian Americans (722), Irish Americans (263).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Fayette County. PPP loans are for West Union.
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Sep 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,294
6,976 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,293
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$152M
FY 2026, $7,781 per person
How people get to work
West Union, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone85.9%
- Carpooled3.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home4.8%
Average one-way commute: 18.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
West Union, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
539
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
39
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 6°F
39.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in West Union, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.9%
U.S. 33.3% +5.6 pts
Diabetes
13.5%
U.S. 12.1% +1.4 pts
Smoking
17.2%
U.S. 12.8% +4.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.9%
U.S. 11.1% -3.2 pts
Cities near West Union
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| HawkeyeCity | 7.1 mi | 0.7 |
| RandaliaCity | 7.3 mi | 0.2 |
| FayetteCity | 7.7 mi | 1.5 |
| ClermontCity | 8.7 mi | 1.3 |
| ElginCity | 9 mi | 0.7 |
| St. LucasCity | 10 mi | 0.3 |
| WadenaCity | 11 mi | 0.8 |
| CastaliaCity | 13 mi | 0.6 |
| WaucomaCity | 13 mi | 0.5 |
| MaynardCity | 13 mi | 1 |
| OssianCity | 14 mi | 1.1 |
| Fort AtkinsonCity | 14 mi | 0.3 |
| PostvilleCity | 15 mi | 2.1 |
| WestgateCity | 16 mi | 0.4 |
| CalmarCity | 16 mi | 1.1 |
| ArlingtonCity | 16 mi | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is West Union, IA in?
- West Union is in Fayette County, Iowa.
- What is the population of West Union, IA?
- About 2,489 people live in West Union, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near West Union?
- Nearby places include Hawkeye (7.1 mi), Randalia (7.3 mi), Fayette (7.7 mi), Clermont (8.7 mi), Elgin (9 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023