Iowa · Census place 84765
West Union, IA population, income and ZIP codes
Quick answer
The population of the city of West Union, Iowa (West Union, IA — Census place “West Union city”) is 2,393 residents, ranking #149 of 1026 places in Iowa. Median household income is $50,909, the median home is worth $133,200 and median gross rent runs $925 a month. Looking for the West Union Iowa ZIP code list? 1 ZIP codes serve West Union, IA: 52175.
- Population
- 2,393West Union city residents
- Median household income
- $50,909Past 12 months, inflation adjusted
- Median home value
- $133,200Owner-occupied units
- Median gross rent
- $925Rent plus utilities, monthly
- Median age
- 42 yrsAll residents
- Homeownership rate
- 64.8%Owner-occupied households
West Union ZIP codes (Iowa)
Census ZCTAs whose delivery area overlaps West Union.
The West Union IA ZIP code list below covers 1 ZIP code. Open any one for its population, income, housing and rent profile.
What the numbers mean in West Union city
Housing cost measured against local earnings.
A household earning the West Union city median would spend about 21.8% of gross income on the median rent. The 30% mark is the federal threshold for cost burden, so anything above it signals a stretched rental market. The median home costs 2.6× the median household income; nationally that ratio sits near 4.5×. Poverty affects 12.8% of residents and 64.8% of households own their home.
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimates · rates as published for 2019-2023 ACS 5-year
West Union city, IA in context
How this area compares with national benchmarks.
West Union city is a small town in Iowa, with 2,393 residents counted in the Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 ACS 5-year estimates, which places it #149 of 1,026 ranked by population — larger than 85% of them. The median age here is 42 years against 39.1 nationally, a slightly older profile than the country as a whole. At this population the ACS sample is small, so the margin of error around every dollar figure below is wide — treat the numbers as a band, not a point, and expect them to move between annual releases without the place itself changing.
Households in West Union city earn a median of $50,909 a year, 35.2% below the national figure of $78,538 and 25% below the $67,791 median for the 290 Iowa cities we cover. Household income here is measured before tax and pooled across everyone at the address, which is why it reads higher than typical individual earnings in the same area. Poverty reaches 12.8% of residents here, above the 12.4% national rate.
The typical owner-occupied home in West Union city is valued at $133,200, 56.1% below the national figure and 15% below the $156,300 peer median, while median gross rent runs $925 a month, 34.2% below the national figure, or roughly $11,100 across a full year. A household on the local median income would put about 21.8% of gross pay toward that rent against the federal 30% cost-burden threshold, so renting here is within the standard affordability guideline. The home-price-to-income ratio works out to 2.6×, against roughly 3.9× nationally, so buying is easier here than in the average US market. 64.8% of occupied homes are owner-occupied versus 65% nationally, so the market leans more heavily on renters. Rent is reported gross — contract rent plus tenant-paid utilities — which is why it runs above the advertised price on a listing for the same unit.
No figure on this page is estimated by us; each one comes straight from the published ACS tables for this area. Small-area estimates still carry wider margins of error than state or national figures, so check the linked ACS tables before relying on them for lending, appraisal or legal work.
Compare with nearby places
Places of similar size in Iowa.
- Atkins city 2,347
- New London city 2,402
- Alta city 2,344
- Belle Plaine city 2,412
- Bellevue city 2,256
- Rockwell City city 2,449
- Hull city 2,248
- West Branch city 2,526
Keep going
More Iowa coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this area.
- What is the population of West Union city?
- West Union city has 2,393 residents on Census ACS 2019-2023 ACS 5-year estimates, ranking #149 of 1,026 in Iowa.
- What is the median household income in West Union city?
- Median household income in West Union city is $50,909 a year, 35.2% below the national figure of $78,538.
- How much does it cost to rent or buy in West Union city?
- Median gross rent is $925 a month and the median home value is $133,200, so rent absorbs about 21.8% of median household income.
- Is West Union city affordable compared with the rest of the US?
- Homes cost about 2.6× the local median income here versus roughly 3.9× nationally, so West Union city is more affordable to buy in than the typical US market, and rent takes 21.8% of median income against the 30% cost-burden line.
- How current is this West Union city data?
- All figures come from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2019-2023 ACS 5-year five-year estimates. At this population the ACS sample is small, so the margin of error around every dollar figure below is wide — treat the numbers as a band, not a point, and expect them to move between annual releases without the place itself changing.