Housing decision brief
Union County, IN Housing Market
Union County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
38th lowest home value out of 92 Indiana counties with data | 23rd lowest rent out of 92
Median home value
$162,200
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$792/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$893/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.0x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
26.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$101/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$162,200 median home value is 5% below Indiana county median
Lower rent
$792/mo is 7% below Indiana county median
Rent burden below pressure line
26.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Low disaster-risk signal
Risk score is 94.8 out of 100, a stronger cross-check for long-term ownership costs.
What to Check
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Long-term owners who care about disaster-risk exposure
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Union County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $162,200 | $171,400 | $281,900 | 5% favorable5% below Indiana county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $792 | $850 | $1,163 | 7% favorable7% below Indiana county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $893 | $898 | $1,672 | Near state median1% below Indiana county median |
Median household income | $79,500 | $66,674 | $74,755 | 19% favorable19% above Indiana county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.71% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 29% favorable29% below Indiana county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 26.00% | 26.00% | N/A | Near state median26.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$47,820
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$41,229
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Union County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $792/month representing approximately 12.0% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 26.0%.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Union County is $792/month, while owner costs run $893/month. Renting saves approximately $101/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $31,680/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $38,271/year. With a median household income of $79,500, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 26.0% of renter households in Union County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Randolph County where rent averages $741/month, Union County is approximately 7% more expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren County, IN | $160,000 | $815/mo | Same-state comparison near $160,000 home value and $815/mo rent. |
| Tipton County, IN | $166,000 | $854/mo | Same-state comparison near $166,000 home value and $854/mo rent. |
| Lawrence County, IN | $164,500 | $800/mo | Same-state comparison near $164,500 home value and $800/mo rent. |
| Montgomery County, IN | $166,300 | $827/mo | Same-state comparison near $166,300 home value and $827/mo rent. |
| Noble County, IN | $183,400 | $776/mo | Same-state comparison near $183,400 home value and $776/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Union County
Is Union County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Union County?
How much income do you need for housing in Union County?
What should I double-check before moving to Union County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.