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City · 67,464 residents · Alameda County, California

Union City , California

In Union City, a typical home is worth $1,104,900 and typical rent is $2,713 a month. Compared with all of Alameda County, typical rent is 15% higher and the share of households that own their home is 10 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $1,104,900

    About the same as the county

    50% above California

    • Union City
    • Alameda
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $2,713a month

    15% above the county

    33% above California

    • Union City
    • Alameda
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $133,715a year

    3% above the county

    35% above California

    • Union City
    • Alameda
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    65%

    10 points above the county

    9 points above California

    • Union City
    • Alameda
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$1,195,668
1.9% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,913 a month
7.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Union City is in Alameda County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Alameda County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Union City apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Cherryland, the typical home value is $668,800: 39% less than in Union City ($1,104,900).

  2. Nearby, in Cherryland, the typical rent is $2,140: 21% less than in Union City ($2,713).

  3. The typical rent in Union City is $2,713 a month, 15% more than in Alameda County as a whole ($2,357).

  4. 65% of households in Union City own their home, against 54% in Alameda County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Union City

What homes there are in Union City, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Union City: 58% of homes, more than in Alameda County (51%).

In Union City there are many mobile homes: 5% of homes; in Alameda County, 1%.

Year built

The typical home in Union City was built in 1980, 11 years after the typical one in Alameda County.

Homes in Union City are bigger: 66% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Alameda County, 50%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 41% of owner-occupied homes in Union City are worth less than $1,000,000, below the FHA loan limit for Alameda County ($1,249,125).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$3,584 a month

Alameda County: $3,810 a month

Without a mortgage

$981 a month

Alameda County: $1,000 a month

Owners with a mortgage

67%

Alameda County: 70%

In Union City, 67% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $3,584 a month, against $3,810 in Alameda County. Without one it drops to $981.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Union City rose at about the same pace as in Alameda County: 44% against 42%.

The typical rent in Union City rose 23% over the same time; in Alameda County, it rose 31%.

Housing prices ran ahead of income in Union City: typical income rose 17%, against +44% for home values and +23% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureUnion CityAlameda CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 3.2%5.7%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.8%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 6.5%7.3%8.2%3.4%
People per household 3.132.702.842.53
Drive alone 60%53%66%69%
Carpool 15%8%10%9%
Public transit 4%8%3%3%
Walk or bike 1%4%3%3%
Work from home 19%26%17%15%
Other means 2%2%2%2%
Typical commute 30 to 39 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Union City, the rental vacancy rate is 3.2%; in Alameda County, 5.7%.

More than one person per room: that is how 6.5% of households in Union City live, near the figure in Alameda County (7.3%).

Households in Union City are bigger: 3.13 people on average; in Alameda County, 2.70.

In Union City, 15% of workers share a car to get to work; in Alameda County, 8%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Union City?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Union City, worth $1,104,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 82% of the typical household income in Union City, which is $133,715 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $392,466 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Alameda County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Union City. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $38,672 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$9,158

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$1,084,887
Total interest
$1,560,898
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $18,659 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,120 a month

  • Tight

    $3,120 to $4,011 a month

  • Hard

    more than $4,011 a month

    Your payment · 82%

Compared with the typical household income in Union City ($133,715 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$9,158
Principal & interest$7,349
Property tax$681
Home insurance$460
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$666

You need at least $38,672 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Union City and Alameda County

Union City is in Alameda County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Union City's own numbers

Typical home value
$1,104,900
Typical monthly rent
$2,713
Typical yearly household income
$133,715
Households that own their home
65%
Effective property tax rate
0.74%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Alameda County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,805
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+23%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.7%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Alameda County.

Everything about Alameda County

Buying

Buying a home in Union City

A typical home in Union City is worth $1,104,900: about the same as the county and 50% above California. With the typical household income in Union City ($133,715 a year), a typical home costs 8.3 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Union City 8.3 years
  • Alameda 8.4 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Alameda County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Alameda County rose 62% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Alameda County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) −1.9% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +23% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +62% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Union City next to Alameda County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Union City $1,104,900
  • Alameda $1,090,100
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Union City $2,713
  • Alameda $2,357
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Union City $133,715
  • Alameda $129,367
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Union City next to Alameda County and California
Measure Union City Alameda County California U.S.
Typical home value $1,104,900 $1,090,100 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,713 $2,357 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $133,715 $129,367 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 65% 54% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $8,217 $8,474 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.74% 0.78% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 50% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Alameda County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Union City

For a typical $1,104,900 home in Union City, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Union City's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $9,158a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $38,672
    Cash to close
    $71,819
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $666

  • Conventional, 5% down $8,777a month

    Down payment
    $55,245
    Cash to close
    $88,392
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $525

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $7,130a month

    Down payment
    $220,980
    Cash to close
    $254,127
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $8,151a month

    Down payment
    $165,735
    Cash to close
    $198,882
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Union City and for Alameda County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Union City

0.74%of the home’s value each year

$8,217 a year for the typical owner in Union City.

  • Union City 0.74%
  • Alameda 0.78%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Alameda County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Alameda County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.7%
6,841
Of those, with NFIP insurance
36%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.7% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 36% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Union City

Typical rent in Union City is $2,713 a month: 15% above the county. In Union City, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Alameda County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,805 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $53.94 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Alameda County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,088 $40.15 $83,520
1 bedroom $2,290 $44.04 $91,600
2 bedrooms $2,805 $53.94 $112,200
3 bedrooms $3,592 $69.08 $143,680
4 bedrooms $4,250 $81.73 $170,000

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Union City

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Union City has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,070 in 94587 to $3,520 in 94552.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Alameda County ($2,805).

  • 94552 $3,520$4,510
  • 94587 $3,070$3,930

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Union City when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Union City

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Union City. These are the largest.

  • Vintage Court Senior Apts 2499 Decoto Rd, Union City 94587 125 homes, 124 low-income · 1 bd: 88 · 2 bd: 37 · In service since 1998 · For older adults
  • Mission Gateway 33155 Mission Blvd, Union City 94587 121 homes, 120 low-income · 1 bd: 14 · 2 bd: 58 · 3 bd: 38 · 4 bd: 11 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Los Robles Apts (union City) 32300 Almaden Blvd, Union City 94587 140 homes, 118 low-income · 2 bd: 57 · 3 bd: 43 · 4 bd: 26 · In service since 2012 · For families (510) 471-6001
  • Station Center Phase I 34888 11th St, Union City 94587 99 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 54 · 3 bd: 30 · In service since 2011 · For families
  • Station Center Phase II 34888 11th St, Union City 94587 56 low-income homes · 1 bd: 17 · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 2012 · For families

See all 336 buildings in Alameda County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Union City

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 7 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Alameda County; 7 say they serve in Spanish.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Union City

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Union City or Alameda County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Union City the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Union City

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Union City, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (ECHO)

    22551 2nd St Ste 200, Hayward · 6 miles away · Spanish

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    • and 2 more
    (510) 581-9380

  • A-1 Community Housing Services

    22320 Foothill Blvd Ste 200, Hayward · 6 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (510) 674-9227

  • Nid-Hca Oakland Main Branch

    7677 Oakport St, Oakland · 14 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (510) 268-9792

Every agency in Alameda County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Union City

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Union City

HUD’s record names them for Union City or Alameda County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the County of Alameda Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (510) 538-8876

5 other authorities have an office in Alameda County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Alameda County

These cities are also in Alameda County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Alameda County Housing in California
See 6 more cities in Alameda County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Union City, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Alameda County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Union City.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Union City

Short answers with the numbers for Union City and all of Alameda County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Union City?

The typical home value in Union City is $1,104,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Alameda County it is $1,090,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Union City?

Typical rent in Union City is $2,713 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Alameda County is $2,805.

What is the FHA loan limit in Union City?

Union City uses the FHA limit for all of Alameda County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Union City?

The typical homeowner in Union City pays $8,217 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.74% of the home’s value; in Alameda County, the rate is 0.78%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Union City?

There are 7 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Alameda County. 7 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).