The Town FilesUnion City, Tennessee
City in Obion County · population 11,170 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $146,000
- Household income
- $50,870
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 37.4
Union City is a city of 11,170 people in Obion County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $146,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Tennessee towns, hipper than 92% of Tennessee towns, more walkable than 84% of Tennessee towns.
How Union City ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Union City is worth $146,000, below the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $50,870, which is more affordable than 79% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $739 a month. 52.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Union City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,000 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $739 | $863 |
| Median household income | $50,870 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 52.9% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Union City
| People | Union City | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.5% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 88.2% |
Weather in Union City
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 26.9°F. About 53.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.8 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 86 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Union City since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on December 10, 2021 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 15, 1971.
Severe weather in Obion County since 1996
Obion County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 19, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4878: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Obion County
Obion County had 12,200 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,932 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Union City itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Union City
5 public schools with 2,579 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union City Elementary School | PK-4 | 815 | 16.3 |
| Lake Road Elementary | PK-8 | 503 | 12.3 |
| Union City Middle School | 5-8 | 475 | 15.3 |
| Union City High School | 9-12 | 417 | 13.9 |
| Ridgemont Elementary | PK-8 | 369 | 10.9 |
Towns near Union City
- Martin, TN12.5 mi · 10,825 people · home $198,300
- Dresden, TN21.9 mi · 3,019 people · home $126,900
- Tiptonville, TN24.0 mi · 3,976 people · home $106,500
- Newbern, TN24.8 mi · 3,349 people · home $99,700
Union City questions
Is Union City, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Union City scores better for retirees than 29% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 13%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Union City?
The median owner-occupied home in Union City is valued at $146,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,870, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $739 a month.
What is the weather like in Union City?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 26.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.8 inches of precipitation a year and 5.8 inches of snow.
Does Union City get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Union City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on December 10, 2021. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)