In Union County, Iowa, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Union County, 17.4% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 83% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 65% of U.S. counties.
What drives Union County's score
In Union County, income and the safety net is the highest-scoring part, at 50.9. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 14.2. People with a credit card behind: 2.0%, August 2025, lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Union County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Union County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (22.7%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 50.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Biggest factorPoverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.4% · 202451st percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.5% · 202446th percentile
- People with a disability15.4% · 2020 to 202444th percentile
- People without health insurance8.3% · 2020 to 202454th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,997 · 202457th percentile
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- 47.8 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202624th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working24.4% · 2020 to 202470th percentile
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- 46.5 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.7% · 2020 to 202476th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income17.4% · fiscal year 202716th percentile
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- 44.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector18.9% · August 202534th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people134.4 · 202553rd percentile
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- 14.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind2.0% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind1.7% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.8% · second quarter of 202632nd percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Union County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Union County, 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Union County
Iowa
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Union County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 32.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about one and a half times as much as benefit checks
In Union County, Iowa, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 32.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Union County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 10.7% in 2019 to 14.0% in 2020.
The share of households in Union County getting SNAP food aid fell to its lowest on the chart in 2019, then climbed past the 2009 level
Low on the chart: 10.7% in 2019. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Union County, Iowa.
How Union County has changed
Union County's population fell 12% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its lowest on the chart, with most of the change between 1984 and 1989
High on the chart: 14,083 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Union County, Iowa.
The number of jobs located in Union County had its largest rise, from 5,641 in 1995 to 6,277 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Union County was at its highest on the chart in 2010 and is down 10% since
High on the chart: 6,492 in 2010. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Union County, Iowa.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.0% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.5% | 2024 13.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,265 | 2024 $63,997 |
The table uses 3.5% for 2025; the score uses 3.3% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Union County's history
1848
Mormons established Mt. Pisgah in eastern Union County as way station for travelers westward; had left by 1848 but settlers used as base to establish farms. Wikipedia
1851
In 1851, one settler counted 2,600 teams driven by emigrants to California for Gold Rush; travelers often sought shelter with settlers; many drove herds of sheep and cattle for miners but many died on journey. Wikipedia
1868
Creston established 1868 as survey camp for Burlington and Missouri Railroad; made division point 1869, railroad built machine shops, roundhouse, construction camp. Wikipedia
1869
Railroad employees including African Americans recruited from Chicago and other major cities to work in Creston. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 19,928. The 2020 Census counted 12,138, 61% of the peak. Census Bureau
1946
Old machine shop building destroyed by tornado 1946; remainder of roundhouse burned 1981. Wikipedia
1979
A tornado in March 1979 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1989
A tornado in May 1989 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1995
A tornado in May 1995 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2012
A tornado in April 2012 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1969
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Union County, 12 of them for flooding. FEMA
Union County beside its neighbors
Union County scores higher than all five counties that border it. Of the group, Union County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (32.4%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union County, IA | 34 | 13.4% | 32.4% |
| Adams County, IA | 13 | 12.1% | 27.8% |
| Clarke County, IA | 12 | 10.9% | 26.0% |
| Adair County, IA | 11 | 10.2% | 24.0% |
| Ringgold County, IA | 10 | 13.3% | 30.6% |
| Madison County, IA | 4 | 6.4% | 18.7% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Union County the poorest county in Iowa?
No, Union County's poverty rate was 13.4% in 2024, 16th highest of 99 in Iowa (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Decatur County, at 18.1%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Union County ranks 12th of 99 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Union County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Iowa Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Union County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.