HomeNew JerseyUnion County
Union County, New Jersey: commercial real estate data.
Union County, New Jersey had an estimated 594,160 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 575,360, across 103 square miles. County output reached $51.95 bn in 2024, 14,276 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 849 7(a) approvals worth $416.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Union County
How many people live in Union County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024579,290
- Households203,277
- Average household size2.85
- Median household income$103,202
- Median age39.1
- Median gross rent$1,730 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$529,200
- Home value to household income5.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher38.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree15.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over394,992
- Population under 18136,260
- Share under 1823.5 percent
- Population 65 and over87,277
- Share 65 and over15.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64355,753
- Civilian labor force317,599
- Unemployment rate6.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.7 percent
- Rank by population among New Jersey counties7th of 21
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included120th of 3,222
Union County is the 7th largest of 21 New Jersey counties by population. A median home costs 5.1 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.5 percent against 15.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Union County
Is Union County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024594,160
- Census 2020 base population575,360
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.27 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202412,080
- Births, 20246,619
- Deaths, 20243,995
- Natural change, 20242,624
- Net domestic migration, 2024-3,874
- Net international migration, 202413,284
- Total net migration, 20249,410
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-21,946
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents815th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.27 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Union County
Where are people moving to Union County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving14,603
- People arriving, from those returns25,531
- Tax returns filed by households leaving17,427
- Net household movement-2,824
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.72 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-190.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$118,079
- Average income of a leaving household$109,885
- Largest single originEssex County (2,750 households)
- Largest single destinationMiddlesex County (2,693 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County | 2,750 | 4,942 | $217.0 m |
| Hudson County | 1,681 | 3,213 | $231.0 m |
| Middlesex County | 1,558 | 2,539 | $119.5 m |
| Kings County | 1,044 | 2,281 | $108.8 m |
| Somerset County | 808 | 1,361 | $63.7 m |
| Queens County | 574 | 1,050 | $45.1 m |
| New York County | 488 | 845 | $146.8 m |
| Morris County | 471 | 784 | $67.5 m |
Households arriving report $8,194 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Essex County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Union County
What is the Union County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$51.95 bn
- County GDP, 2023$49.46 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.0 percent
- GDP change over five years33.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the New Jersey areas BEA publishes9th of 21
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes114th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$89,674
Output grew 5.0 percent in the latest year and 33.7 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Union County
Employment by industry in Union County
- Covered employment, annual average229,010
- Establishments reporting16,571
- Average annual pay$84,322
- Average weekly wage$1,622
- Health care and social assistance, employment35,116
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$65,623
- Retail trade, employment25,093
- Retail trade, average annual pay$43,169
- Manufacturing, employment22,076
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$140,532
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment15,855
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$56,480
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment15,442
- Accommodation and food services, employment15,350
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 35,116 | 3,110 | $65,623 |
| Retail trade | 25,093 | 1,734 | $43,169 |
| Manufacturing | 22,076 | 618 | $140,532 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 15,855 | 974 | $56,480 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 15,442 | 1,491 | $160,062 |
| Accommodation and food services | 15,350 | 1,242 | $31,468 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 14,703 | 748 | $99,661 |
| Wholesale trade | 12,812 | 770 | $101,391 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 35,116 jobs, 15.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Union County
How many businesses are in Union County?
- Establishments, all industries14,276
- Employment at those establishments208,505
- Annual payroll$15.06 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Union County
Building permits in Union County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,696
- Declared construction value permitted$178.2 m
- Single family units authorized212
- Multifamily units authorized1,484
- Multifamily share of units87.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$105,090
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.3
Multifamily is 87.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Union County
SBA loans in Union County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded849
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$416.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$490,851
- Median 7(a) approval$150,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,307,860
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)7,684
- Jobs per approval9.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active95
- Distinct industries receiving approvals253
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer13.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms113
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter706
- Franchise loans86
- Franchise share of approvals10.1 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Freight Trucking, Local (36)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (218)
- 504 approvals recorded119
- 504 gross approval dollars$142.6 m
- Average 504 approval$1,197,958
- Median 504 approval$740,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval11.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.4
- Most active CDCTrenton Business Assistance Corporation (60)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$559.3 m
The average approval of $490,851 sits well above the median of $150,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 13.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Union County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Union County
Do SBA loans in Union County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded112
- Paid in full89
- Charged off23
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans20.5 percent
- Status: Paid in full89
- Status: Cancelled112
- Status: Exempt from disclosure574
- Status: Charged off23
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed51
Of the 112 loans that have reached a final outcome, 20.5 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Union County
SBA lending by place in Union County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending31
- Elizabeth, approvals110
- Linden, approvals106
- Union, approvals96
- Westfield, approvals63
- Rahway, approvals56
- Cranford, approvals45
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 110 | $45,244,500 |
| Linden | 106 | $49,927,500 |
| Union | 96 | $44,290,700 |
| Westfield | 63 | $33,321,900 |
| Rahway | 56 | $45,438,700 |
| Cranford | 45 | $19,195,000 |
| Hillside | 39 | $18,566,000 |
| Summit | 38 | $25,986,300 |
| 23 other borrower cities | 296 | $134,761,800 |
Elizabeth accounts for 110 approvals against 106 in Linden. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Union County
How large is Union County?
- Land area103 sq mi
- Rank by land area among New Jersey counties20th of 21
- Width, east to west17.1 mi
- Height, north to south10.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land5,624
- Establishments per square mile138.60
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Union County
Flood risk in Union County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book20
- Of those, participating in the NFIP20
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class8
- Radon levels in Union County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Union County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Union County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Union County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024579,290
- Households203,277
- Average household size2.85
- Median household income$103,202
- Median age39.1
Common questions
Union County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Union County, New Jersey?
The Census Bureau estimates 594,160 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 579,290, in 203,277 households, ranking 7th of 21 New Jersey counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Union County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.27 percent since the 2020 census base of 575,360, to 594,160 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 6,619 births against 3,995 deaths, with net migration of 9,410. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Union County?
$103,202. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $529,200, which is 5.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,730 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Union County?
14,276 establishments, employing 208,505 people with an annual payroll of $15.06 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Union County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 35,116 jobs, 15.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 229,010 jobs at an average annual pay of $84,322, or $1,622 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Union County?
849 7(a) approvals totaling $416.7 m since FY2020, across 95 lenders, with a median approval of $150,000, plus 119 504 approvals worth $142.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Union County get paid back?
Of the 112 loans that have reached a final outcome, 89 were paid in full and 23 charged off, a charge-off rate of 20.5 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Union County?
1,696 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $178.2 m. Multifamily was 87.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Union County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Union County come from?
The largest single origin is Essex County, with 2,750 households. Arriving households report an average income of $118,079 against $109,885 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Union County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Union County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Union County
Cities and places in Union.
19 Census places lie wholly or partly in Union County. All 19 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | city | 137,302 | 110 | Wholly in this county |
| Plainfield | city | 55,236 | 30 | Wholly in this county |
| Linden | city | 44,192 | 106 | Wholly in this county |
| Westfield | town | 31,111 | 63 | Wholly in this county |
| Rahway | city | 30,109 | 56 | Wholly in this county |
| Summit | city | 22,705 | 38 | Wholly in this county |
| Roselle | borough | 22,646 | 31 | Wholly in this county |
| Roselle Park | borough | 14,093 | 21 | Wholly in this county |
| New Providence | borough | 13,727 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Kenilworth | borough | 8,401 | 29 | Wholly in this county |
| Fanwood | borough | 7,799 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Mountainside | borough | 7,049 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Vauxhall | CDP | 6,157 | 8 | 97.5 percent here, 2.5 percent Essex County |
| Garwood | borough | 4,885 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Union | CDP | 2,774 | 96 | Wholly in this county |
| Cranford | CDP | 1,937 | 45 | Wholly in this county |
| Kean University | CDP | 1,362 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Springfield | CDP | 1,304 | 31 | Wholly in this county |
| Connecticut Farms | CDP | 516 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 118 of the county's 849 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Union County, the largest being Hillside (39), Scotch Plains (23), Clark (18). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby