Franklin Co. courthouse, 1908
Union’s story
200 years in pictures
Census counts: 402 in 1880, 12,348 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 1908 and 3 maps from 1946 on.
- 1826Union is founded
Photo: TCP04 · CC BY 4.0
Population
13,445
2025 Census estimate · +8.9% since 2020
Typical home
$257K
+4.3% in a year
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
33.3
years
Jobs based here
6,096
Balanced
TownGrade
C+
#123 of 247 in MO
Is Union a good place to live?
Union gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $257K, 3.2 years of the St. Louis metro’s $80K median household income. It grades C+ overall, 123rd among Missouri's 247 graded towns. The low prices come with trade-offs. It reports more crime per resident than 86% of U.S. towns, including 55 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Union is home to East Central College. Union’s level of property crime is 22.5 per 1,000 residents, where Missouri’s towns sit at 12.4 and U.S. towns at 9.9. Union's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 90% of U.S. towns.
What makes Union stand out
Where Union beats most towns.
Typical home value
Union$257K
Missouri$265K
Cost of livingA
More affordable than 93% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Union5.9
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical MO town3.8
Civic lifeA
57% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Missouri town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
The college
| College | Students |
|---|---|
| East Central College | 2,200 |
A college in town
2,200 college students
at East Central College
Students are 3% of residents.
A growing town
Union has grown 32% since 2010
10,204 counted in 2010 and 12,348 in 2020; an estimated 13,445 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 8.9% since 2020, after 21% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Union grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Missouri), ordered by how far Union is from typical.
Cost of livingAOpen →SafetyDOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →HealthMercy Hospital Washington 7.9 miles awayC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.9 of 20; 5.9% of households have no car; 1.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Jobs & income$73K median household income; 6,096 jobs based hereB−Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 2% conserved landB−Open →History3 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life5.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Union: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Union, and how to reach them.
PowerUnion Electric13.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterUnion PWSNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet9 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMondayTown’s haulerTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereFranklinFranklin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code6308463084 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.
Union trades lower home prices for longer drives to work, trades workers with Washington and other neighbors and looks healthier within Missouri than nationally.
SafetyD
For safety, Union earns a D
Reported crimes fell from 461 to 357 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Union’s level of violent crime stands at 4.1 per 1,000 residents.
14%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Union4.1
Missouri4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Union22.5
Missouri16.9
U.S.15.5
14th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
25th
percentile among MO towns
55
violent crimes reported in 2025
302
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB−
Union’s schools rank ahead of 50% of Missouri districts
Public schools: the Union R-Xi school district. The largest public high school is Union High, with 956 students. Two of its 6 schools are below, each with the reason it’s listed.
50%of MO districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 704 | B |
| Union HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 956 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MO on state tests and graduation
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers: that is Union’s year
The range runs from 22° on a January night to 89° on a July afternoon, with about 14 inches of snow a winter.
14″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–44°
Spring44–67°
Summer65–87°
Fall45–69°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 11
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsB−
2.2% of the land in Union is protected from building
Trails total 2.3 miles in 8 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Veterans Memorial Park, at 45 acres. Parks and preserves in Union: 8, covering 111 acres.
#115for trails in MO
| Union | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.2% | 2.1% | 4.3% |
2.2%
conserved · 128 of 5,788 acres
2.3 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Union City Park | 0.3 mi | 15 |
| 2. Clark-Vitt Park | 0.3 mi | 14 |
| 3. Veterans Memorial Park | — | 45 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
About one in six working residents works right in Union
Union has about as many jobs (6,096) as working residents, but only 1,082 people both live and work here.
The share of working residents in Union who work locally: 18%. The top destinations are Washington (12%), St. Louis (5%) and Pacific (3%). For Union, the average trip to work is 24 minutes.
18%work in town
| Union | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 18% | 13% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $73,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Union18%
Washington12%
St. Louis5%
Pacific3%
St. Clair3%
25 mi
median commute distance
6,096
jobs based in Union
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 57% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Union has a high natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
Federal aid has come to Union households in 6 declared disasters; the latest was in 2025. Compared with 64% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage here is higher. Since 1979, Union has seen 27 flood insurance claims paid out. Of the losses FEMA expects here, 49% come from inland flooding and 17% from earthquakes.
64risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesTornadoes
27
paid flood claims since 1979
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Union skews younger than Missouri
The bachelor’s-degree share among adults 25 and older is 24%, against 32% across Missouri. Population is up 8.9% in Union since 2020, to 13,445 by the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. Among residents locally, 12% are 65 or older.
33.3median age · MO 39
| Union | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.3 years | 38.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 12% | 17% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 26% | 23% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 24% | 22% | 29% |
UnionMissouriUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school34%
Some college23%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate6%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.2 points. Across Missouri, 50.7% of residents are women. Among residents 45 to 54, 66% are men (MO 50%).
| Union | MO | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 16.6% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.8% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.6% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 17.5% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.3% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.4% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.5% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.6% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.8% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.9% | 8.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 33.5% | 30.2% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.4% | 20.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.5% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.5% | 19.8% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.2% | 12.6% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HealthC+
Residents of Union are less healthy than 58% of U.S. towns
Within Missouri it is healthier than 62% of the 247 graded towns: much of Missouri scores lower on these measures.
27% of adults in Union have been diagnosed with depression; 31% feel lonely. In Union, 19% of adults binge drink.
42%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Union | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 25% | 23% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 33% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
3 better29 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Union | MO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 10.3% | 12.1% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3.1% | 3.6% |
Mercy Hospital Washington
7.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
62nd
percentile among MO towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade A
For cost of living, Union earns an A
Homes are within reach (about $257K for the typical one, A for cost of living), but half of working residents commute more than 25 miles.
The typical home value in Union is about $257,000, up 4.3% in a year, close to the Missouri typical home. The median rent here is $858 a month. Homes sold in Union spent a median 29 days on the market.
$257KZillow home value
| Union | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 61% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $858 a month | $972 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Union$257K
Missouri$265K
Market temperature
29
days on market
99.7%
sale-to-list price
+4.3%
value change, 1 year
19
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 60 attractions →Mid America Adventure and 14 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Union. Close and well known come first.
18 mi Theme parkMid America Adventure15 mi CaveMeramec Caverns
30 mi MuseumNational Museum of Transportation
39 mi LandmarkJefferson Barracks National Cemetery
35 mi TheatreHollywood Casino Amphitheatre
36 mi National Historic SiteUlysses S. Grant National Historic Site37K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mid America Adventure: Chris Hagerman from New Port Richey, FL, US, CC BY 2.0 · National Museum of Transportation: Nate Beal, CC BY 2.0 · Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery: Robert Lawton, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site: Kbh3rd, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Union
20pages on Union
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 50% of MO districts · 6 schoolsSafetyD4.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC+Better than MO on 3 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$257K typical home · up 4.3% in a yearWork & commuteB−$73K median household income · 6,096 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 64% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Union
About 3 of every 100 Union residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
College town
East Central College calls Union home
College Scorecard · IPEDS
Famous people from Union
3 notable people were born in Union.
About Union
City in Missouri, United States
Union is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Missouri, United States. It is located on the Bourbeuse River, 50 miles (80 km) southwest of St. Louis. The population was 12,348 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 9.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 531 ft
- ZIP code
- 63084
- Area code
- 636
Questions about Union
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Union, MO a good place to live?
Union grades C+ overall, better than 44% of U.S. towns and #123 of 247 in Missouri. It grades C+ for health, D for safety and B− for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Union, MO 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, MO known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Paul J. Mueller and Roy Parker.