San Francisco Bay, from EMB120, 2006
Union City’s story
67 years in pictures
Census counts: 6,618 in 1960, 70,143 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1850 and 8 maps from 1899 on.
- 1959Union City is settled
Union CityCA
A city of 65,282, settled in 1959.
Population
65,282
2025 Census estimate · −6.9% since 2020
Typical home
$1.2M
−1.9% in a year
Household income
$134K
median
Median age
43.0
years
Jobs based here
24,249
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#307 of 841 in CA
Is Union City a good place to live?
Union City's standout: it has 27 miles of trail and 26% conserved land. Overall it grades C+, ranked 307th of 841 in California. It is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns and the median household earns $134K. Its weakest subject is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.2 million, 8.8 years of the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income. Union City’s median rent is $2,713 a month, above both California’s towns ($1,895 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Union City is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 93% of U.S. towns. Union City's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 95% of U.S. towns.
What makes Union City stand out
Where Union City beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Get outside
27 miles of trails in Union City
25.8% of the town is conserved land, across 25 parks and preserves.
3
Casa Verde Park0.8 mi of trails · 12 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Union City grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Union City is from typical.
Cost of livingD−Open →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.4 of 20; 5.9% of households have no carAOpen →HealthWashington Hospital 3.7 miles awayAOpen →SafetyC−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →SchoolsB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsA+Open →History6 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 256 attractions →Levi's Stadium and 221 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Union City. Close and well known come first.
Big draw14 mi Stadium & arenaLevi's Stadium
Big draw27 mi MuseumAlcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Big draw15 mi Theme parkCalifornia's Great America
Big draw20 mi MuseumUSS Hornet
Big draw23 mi Stadium & arenaChase Center
Big draw24 mi Stadium & arenaOracle ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Levi's Stadium: Matthew Roth, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary: druchoy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · California's Great America: Oleg Alexandrov, CC BY-SA 4.0 · USS Hornet: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0 · Chase Center: Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Oracle Park: User Coasttocoast on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Union City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Union City, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterAlameda County Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet10 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Union City’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereAlameda Registrar of VotersAlameda County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code9458794587 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Union City.
Union City has home values still below their peak, owes part of its health edge to its incomes and has seen reported crime fall by a third or more.
HousingCost of living grade D−
For cost of living, Union City earns a D−
The typical value, about $1.2M, is 8% below its May 2022 peak. The median property tax bill is $8,217, against $5,124 across California, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The typical Union City home is worth about $1,196,000, down 1.9% in a year, 57% above the California typical home.
$1.2MZillow home value
| Union City | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 47% | 55% | 48% |
| Households that own their home | 65% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Union City$1.2M
California$762K
Market temperature
19
days on market
103.1%
sale-to-list price
−1.9%
value change, 1 year
33
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsB+
Public schools in Union City beat 65% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the New Haven Unified school district. Three of its 12 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
65%of CA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itliong-Vera CruzLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,097 | – |
| James Logan HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 3,096 | A− |
| Connecting Waters Charter - East BayTop results in townGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 540 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsA+
Union City has set aside nearly a quarter of its land for conservation
27 miles of trail in 25 parks and preserves. Union City’s trail density is 1.4 miles per square mile. The biggest place to walk is Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park, 1,664 acres with 17.3 miles of trail.
#266for trails in CA
25.8%
conserved · 3,183 of 12,353 acres
27 mi
of trails · 1.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park | 17.3 mi | 1,664 |
| 2. William Cann Civic Center Park | 1 mi | 13 |
| 3. Casa Verde Park | 0.8 mi | 12 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Union City faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by earthquakes
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 91% of U.S. communities. Since 1995, 19 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Union City.
91risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
19
paid flood claims since 1995
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA
Union City stands out in California and nationally: a smaller share of its adults have obesity
Against the 4,182 U.S. towns with household incomes like Union City’s, it is healthier than 54%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
19% of adults have obesity in Union City. Union City beats the California average on 20 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 16% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Union City.
85%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Union City | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 29% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 22% | 23% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 36% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
32 measures vs. California
20 better12 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Union City | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with obesity | 19% | 27.8% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5% | 7.3% |
Washington Hospital
3.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
77th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyC−
Union City sees more crime per resident than 85% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 2,395 to 1,466 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
The violent crime rate in Union City is 4.5 per 1,000 residents.
15%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| Union City | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.5 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 17.9 per 1,000 residents | 13.3 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Union City4.5
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Union City17.9
California18.2
U.S.15.5
15th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
22nd
percentile among CA towns
296
violent crimes reported in 2025
1,170
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Union City has 0.7 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Union City for work: only 8% work in town. Since 2013, Union City has added 5,093 jobs, to 24,249 in 2023. 19% of Union City workers work from home.
8%work in town
| Union City | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $134,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 19% | 14% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Union City8%
Fremont11%
San Jose8%
San Francisco7%
Hayward6%
14 mi
median commute distance
24,249
jobs based in Union City
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Union City has mild winters and pleasant summers
Union City has warm winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 40° and snow is almost unheard of.
83°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter41–60°
Spring47–70°
Summer55–82°
Fall50–75°
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
83°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer children than California overall
Children under 18 are 17% of residents (22% statewide). Union City has lost 6.9% of its people since 2020, down to 65,282 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 45% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 37% across California.
43median age · CA 37.9
| Union City | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 17% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 45% | 29% | 29% |
| Median age | 43 years | 39 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 19% | 16% | 18% |
Union CityCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma13%
High school19%
Some college16%
Associate’s7%
Bachelor’s28%
Graduate18%
Women and men · all residents
50.2% women, 49.8% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±0.8 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 44.5, men 41.4.
| Union City | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.6% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.4% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.6% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.6% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.5% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.7% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.5% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 13.4% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 18.5% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.9% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27.6% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 17.5% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Union City
20pages on Union City
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 65% of CA districts · 12 schoolsSafetyC−4.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than CA on 20 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$1.2M typical home · down 1.9% in a yearWork & commuteA−$134K median household income · 24,249 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 91% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
15 within 15 miles of the center of Union City
California State University-East BayUniversity or college · Public · Hayward4.3 mi$7,583 in-state tuitionChabot CollegeCommunity college · Public · Hayward5.5 mi$1,150 in-state tuitionLife Chiropractic College WestUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Hayward5.9 mi
About 6 of every 100 Union City residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
A commuter town
92% of working residents leave Union City for work
Where Union City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
24,249jobs based in Union City
8%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Union City
6 notable people were born in Union City.
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About Union City
City in California, United States
Union City is a city in Alameda County, California, United States in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population in the 2020 census was 70,143, up from 69,628 in the 2010 census. It is located approximately 19 miles (31 km) south of Oakland, 30 miles (48 km) from San Francisco, and 20 miles (32 km) north of San Jose. It was incorporated in 1959, combining the communities of Alvarado and Decoto. Alvarado is a California Historical Landmark (#503). The city celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 19 sq mi
- Elevation
- 69 ft
- ZIP code
- 94587
- Area code
- 510
Union City’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Union City.
FremontHaywardUnion City
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union City | #307 | C+ | D− | C− | B+ | A |
| Fremont | #105 | B+ | D− | C | A | A+ |
| Hayward | #528 | C− | D | D | C+ | B+ |
Questions about Union City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Union City, CA a good place to live?
Union City grades C+ overall, better than 38% of U.S. towns and #307 of 841 in California. It grades A for health, C− for safety and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Union City, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.
What is Union City, CA known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Joey Bragg and Avantika Vandanapu.