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The ACS estimates about 11,800, give or take 731 civilian veterans in Union County.
By ACS estimates, Union County has the 13th largest veteran population among North Carolina's 100 counties and equivalents.
Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
Measure
Union County
North Carolina
United States
Share with a service-connected rating
23 percent
below the North Carolina share; below the national share.
34 percent
30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher
9 percent
below the North Carolina share; below the national share.
18 percent
13 percent
Union County has about 2,490, give or take 291 veterans 75 and older, making up 21 percent of its veterans compared with 23 percent in North Carolina.
Union County has about 859, give or take 275 veterans under 35, making up 7 percent of its veterans compared with 10 percent in North Carolina.
Union County has about 1,470, give or take 316 women veterans; both the county and North Carolina round to a 12 percent share.
Income, work and education in Union County
Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
Measure
Union County
North Carolina
United States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$60,677 ± $4,116
$52,418 ± $511
$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$44,559 ± $905
$38,302 ± $191
$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over
5.6% ± 1.7 points
7.3% ± 0.3 points
7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over
23.5% ± 2.8 points
30.1% ± 0.5 points
30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64
79.3% ± 5.1 points
71.6% ± 0.7 points
73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64
2.0% ± 1.7 points; small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over
94.7% ± 1.7 points
95.8% ± 0.2 points
95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over
30.8% ± 3.1 points
32.2% ± 0.6 points
31.8% ± 0.2 points
Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.
VA projects more veterans here in 2035: about 12,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 11,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA disability compensation in Union County
VA reports 3,817 veterans in Union County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating group
Recipients
0 to 20 percent
649
30 to 40 percent
408
50 to 60 percent
456
70 to 90 percent
1,151
100 percent
1,153
FY2019: 2,406 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,411.
In 2025, lenders reported 448 VA-backed home loans out of 8,298 home loans made in Union County (5.4% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Outside North Carolina, in Columbia, SC, Columbia, SC Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Union County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 73 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Winston-Salem RO (station 318); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Military branch is not listed in the USACE FY2024 property data.
These lists use site points within county boundaries. A site may extend into another county.
For VA’s service-location rules, see the presumptive conditions list. A location listing does not establish personal exposure or eligibility.
Veterans experiencing homelessness
On one night in January 2024, North Carolina Balance of State CoC counted 134 veterans experiencing homelessness (70 sheltered, 64 unsheltered).
NC-503 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid). This Balance of State area covers communities outside separate local CoCs.
The HUD workbook reports 157 veterans for the 2019 comparison.
This is a one-night count for the whole CoC area, not a county or annual total. CoC mapping method.
If you need housing help, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. You can call any time, day or night.
JAARS (unincorporated community): about 715 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.
Qualifying North Carolina veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability receive a $45,000 homestead assessed value exemption.
North Carolina offers Class I-B scholarships to eligible children of veterans receiving compensation for a 100 percent wartime service-connected disability.
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