The Town Files

Union County, Iowa

11,993 people. The median home is worth $122,000 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $57,772.

Towns in Union County

Towns in Union County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Creston7,536$114,500$52,63339.5

People and housing

Union CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$122,000$156,300
Median rent$721$820
Median household income$57,772$69,254
Median age40.540.2
Bachelor's degree or higher23.3%21.8%
Below the poverty line12.4%9.3%

Jobs and pay

5,910 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,030 a year.

Largest industries in Union CountyManufacturing1,082 jobs · $55,328Retail746 jobs · $31,070Health care & social assistan…538 jobs · $37,246Hotels & restaurants369 jobs · $16,705Administrative & support327 jobs · $36,172Construction288 jobs · $72,760
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Union County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 515 storm events in Union County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Union County by type since 1996Hail104Flood13Drought27Tornado26Blizzard14High Wind26Ice Storm15Heavy Rain59Heavy Snow21Flash Flood26
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Union County has been included in 21 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 14, 2024TornadoDR-4779: Severe Storms And Tornadoes
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
March 23, 2019FloodDR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 29, 2010Severe StormDR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes
March 2, 2010Severe StormDR-1880: Severe Winter Storm
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).