Union City, CA

Census place 0681204 · pop 67,464

D−43/ 100
🫤 Rough
C
in CA
📍 California ranks #49 of 50 states →
🏆 Obesity19.0% · top 1%
🚽 Growth-9.7% · bottom 2%
Taxes
0.74% property · US 0.99%8.99% sales · US 7.00%up to 13.30% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Population growth (5yr)-9.7%2

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-9.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Housing cost$1,104,9003

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$1,104,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level100/1003

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

100/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Commute time32 min10

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

32 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Rent$2,777/mo11

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$2,777/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Property crime rate2270/100k23

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

2270 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Violent crime rate402/100k25

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

402 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.3%26

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level49 AQI27

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

49 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Income inequality0.4444

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Homeownership64.7%52

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

64.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Physical inactivity22.1%67

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

22.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Property-tax burden0.74%69

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.74% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Uninsured adults7.3%73

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

7.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poverty rate7.2%73

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

7.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Bachelor's degree or higher45.1%76

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

45.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Broadband access95.1%80

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

95.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult smoking8.6%89

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

8.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poor mental health13.7%89

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

13.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Median household income$133,71591

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$133,715 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Adult obesity19.0%99

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

19.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Frequently asked

Is Union City, CA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Union City scores 43/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is adult obesity and its weakest is population growth (5yr). California overall ranks #49 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Union City, CA?
Union City reports 402 violent crimes per 100k and 2270 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Union City, CA expensive to live in?
Union City has a median home value of $1,104,900 and typical rent around $2,777/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Union City, CA?
Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-9.7%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Union City, CA best at?
Its strongest measured area is adult obesity (19.0%) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.