John D. Zimmerman House, 2017
Union City’s story
186 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005.
- 1840Union City is settled
Union CityMI
Population
1,726
2025 Census estimate · +0.1% since 2020
Typical home
$171K
+3.1% in a year
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
32.5
years
Jobs based here
280
A commuter town
Is Union City a good place to live?
Union City’s best subject grades are an A− for cost of living and history; its weakest is a C− for health. 32% of residents are under 18 in Union City, above both Michigan’s towns (21%) and U.S. towns (22%). Only 2 of the 280 Michigan towns we compare have a lower violent crime rate than Union City. Union City is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 71% of U.S. towns. Union City has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Union City stand out
Where Union City beats most towns.
Typical home value
Union City$171K
Michigan$264K
Cost of livingA−
2.7 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 78% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
0historic places
HistoryA−
Settled in 1840
A long history
A history going back 186 years.
Natural hazardsA−
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Union City for work
Where Union City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
280jobs based in Union City
6%of working residents work in town
18 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
How Union City grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Union City is from typical.
HealthLess healthy than 83% of U.S. towns; Insight Hospital and Medical Center Coldwater 11.8 miles awayC−Open →Jobs & income280 jobs based hereC−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 25% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.4 of 20; 8.7% of households have no car; 4.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →SchoolsBehind 51% of Michigan districts on tests and graduationB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsC−Open →History6 notable people born hereA−Open →Civic life2.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market55 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 32.5; 17% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
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.
PowerVillage of Union CityEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterUnion City water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Union City’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan 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 hereUnion Township ClerkUnion Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4909449094 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Union City.
HealthC−
Union City stands out in Michigan and nationally, with more of its adults who have been diagnosed with depression
30% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Union City, above both the Michigan town median (27%) and the median of U.S. towns (23%). 13% of adults have diabetes in Union City. Union City beats the Michigan average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15.
17%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Union City | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 27% | 23% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
0 better17 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Union City | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 20.1% | 14.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.8% | 8.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 13.2% | 10.2% |
Insight Hospital and Medical Center Coldwater
11.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade A−
Homes in Union City are worth about $171K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Union City home is worth about $171,000, up 3.1% in a year, 35% below the Michigan typical home. 68% of Union City households own their home.
$171KZillow home value
| Union City | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 68% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $935 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Union City$171K
Michigan$264K
Market temperature
55
days on market
95.8%
sale-to-list price
+3.1%
value change, 1 year
5
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Union City’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Union City for work: only 6% work in town. Union City’s median household income is $63,000. The top destinations are Coldwater (13%), Battle Creek (9%) and Union Township (7%).
6%work in town
| Union City | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $63,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Union City6%
Coldwater13%
Battle Creek9%
Union Township7%
Marshall6%
18 mi
median commute distance
280
jobs based in Union City
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 71% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Union City
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 75% of U.S. communities.
25risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Union City, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
Union City has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 17° and about 43 inches of snow falls in a winter.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–34°
Spring37–58°
Summer59–81°
Fall41–61°
Oct 13
typical first frost
May 2
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Union City
Union City's reported crime rate is below Michigan's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. No violent crimes were reported in 2022.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Union City0
Michigan4.7
U.S.4
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Union City12.8
Michigan15.9
U.S.20
0
violent crimes reported in 2022
22
property crimes reported in 2022
FBI crime data, 2022 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsC−
Union City has set aside 0% of its land for conservation
0.2 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The trail density in Union City is 0.1 miles per square mile.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 943 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Riverview Community Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 29 attractions →Air Zoo and 14 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Union City. Close and well known come first.
24 mi Theme parkAir Zoo12 mi Zoo & aquariumBinder Park Zoo
17 mi MuseumAmerican Museum of Magic
30 mi MuseumGilmore Car Museum87K visitors a year28 mi Theme parkFun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo
28 mi MuseumKalamazoo Institute of ArtsSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Air Zoo: User:my name, CC BY-SA 3.0 · American Museum of Magic: rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gilmore Car Museum: Kevin S. Forsyth, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: 72elyod, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Union City
20pages on Union City
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 51% of MI districtsSafety0 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2022)HealthC−Better than MI on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$171K typical home · up 3.1% in a yearWork & commuteC−$63K median household income · 280 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 25% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Union City; the nearest are
Kellogg Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Battle Creek18.7 mi$4,118 in-state tuitionWestern Michigan UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Kalamazoo28.3 mi$15,252 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Union City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
Famous people from Union City
6 notable people were born in Union City.
About Union City
Village in Michigan, United States
Union City is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the village is within Union Township in Branch County with only a very small portion extending north into Burlington Township in Calhoun County. The population was 1,714 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 906 ft
- ZIP code
- 49094
Questions about Union City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Union City, MI expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.
What is Union City, MI known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Josh McDowell and Carlotta Perry.