Of important note, Union Pier is also a town of artists. Union Pier has more artists, designers and people working in media than 90% of the communities in America. This concentration of artists helps shape Union Pier’s character.
Also of interest is that Union Pier has more people living here who work in computers and math than 95% of the places in the US.
A relatively large number of people in Union Pier telecommute to their jobs. Overall, about 36.56% of the workforce works from home. While this may seem like a small number, as a fraction of the total workforce it ranks among the highest in the country. These workers are often telecommuters who work in knowledge-based, white-collar professions. For example, Silicon Valley has large numbers of people who telecommute. Other at-home workers may be self-employed people who operate small businesses out of their homes.
Another notable thing is that Union Pier is a major vacation destination. Much of the town’s population is seasonal: many people own second homes and only live there part-time, during the vacation season. The effect on the local economy is that many of the businesses are dependent on tourist dollars, and may operate only during the high season. As the vacation season ends, Union Pier’s population drops significantly, such that year-round residents will notice that the city is a much quieter place to live.
In addition, Union Pier is home to many people who could be described as "urban sophisticates". Urban sophisticates are educated, wealthy, executives and professionals, who have urbane tastes in books, food, and travel, whether they actually live in a big city, or choose to reside in a small town. In big or medium-sized cities, urban sophisticates tend to frequent art institutions such as opera, symphonies, ballet, live theatre, and museums.
Union Pier is a good choice for families with children because of several factors. Many other families with children live here, making it a place where both parents and children are more likely to develop social ties with other families. The town’s good public school district and large population of college-educated adults provide an environment conducive to academic success. Many people own their own single-family homes, providing areas for children to play and stability in the community. Finally, Union Pier’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country.
It is a fairly quiet town because there are relatively few of those groups of people who have a tendency to be noisy. (Children, for example, often can't help themselves from being noisy, and being parents ourselves, we know!) Union Pier has relatively few families with children living at home, and is quieter because of it. Renters and college students, for their own reasons, can also be noisy. Union Pier has few renters and college students. But the biggest reason it is quieter in Union Pier than in most places in America, is that there are just simply fewer people living here. If you think trees make good neighbors, Union Pier may be for you.
As is often the case in a small town, Union Pier doesn't have a public transportation system that people use for their commute.
