Union County, North Carolina Housing Market
In Union County, North Carolina, the median home value is $417,300, with a median monthly rent of $1,496. This places Union County at #254 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #5 within North Carolina.
📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)
📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)
FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025
📍 Economic Snapshot
Employment & Wages
- Avg weekly wage: $1,256
- Establishments: 7,795
- BLS QCEW, 2025
Housing Supply
- Single-family: 2,387
- Multi-family: 320
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
Migration Patterns
- Inflow: 93,071 (avg $126,429)
- Outflow: 86,662 (avg $126,895)
- IRS Statistics of Income
📍 Sub-Market Activity
Top 5 active ZIP codes in Union County · Latest: 2025
| # | ZIP Code | HPI | YoY Change | Latest Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28173 | 302.3 | +4.74% | 2025 |
| 2 | 28110 | 283.4 | +3.27% | 2025 |
| 3 | 28112 | 273.0 | +3.00% | 2025 |
| 4 | 28079 | 275.3 | -2.18% | 2025 |
| 5 | 28174 | 273.8 | +5.78% | 2025 |
Source: FHFA HPI for Five-Digit ZIP Codes (All-Transactions Index, 2000 = 100).
This product uses FHFA Data but is neither endorsed nor certified by FHFA.
How Union County Compares
| Metric | Union County | North Carolina Average | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $417,300 | $235,312 | $227,706 |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,496 | $976 | $968 |
| Owner Occupancy Rate | 81.6% | 71.8% | 73.3% |
| Price/Rent Ratio | 23.2 | 19.8 | 18.7 |
Market Analysis
The median home value in Union County is 77.3% above the North Carolina state average and 83.3% above the U.S. national average. The median rent of $1,496/month is 53.3% above the state average.
With a price-to-rent ratio of 23.2, renting is generally more cost-effective than buying in the short to medium term. The market favors buyers only for long-term holds.
Union County has an owner-occupancy rate of 81.6%, compared to 71.8% in North Carolina and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more homeowner-heavy market than the U.S. average.
Similar Counties by Home Value
| County | State | Median Home Value | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson County | Tennessee | $417,400 | $1,582 |
| Marion County | Oregon | $416,400 | $1,414 |
| Powhatan County | Virginia | $416,000 | $1,168 |
| Rockwall County | Texas | $415,500 | $1,992 |
| Scott County | Minnesota | $419,400 | $1,568 |
Other Counties in North Carolina
| County | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Owner Occ. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County | $406,800 | $1,627 | 55.1% |
| Buncombe County | $391,800 | $1,362 | 66.2% |
| Durham County | $389,400 | $1,508 | 55.5% |
| Chatham County | $446,200 | $1,180 | 80.6% |
| New Hanover County | $387,800 | $1,417 | 61.4% |
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates (2017–2024). Variables: B25077 (Median Home Value), B25064 (Median Gross Rent), B25003 (Tenure). Data collected on 2026-10-13. The price-to-rent ratio is calculated as Median Home Value ÷ (Median Monthly Rent × 12).