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Ferndale, WA

City in Whatcom County, Washington.

Population

15,999

Land area

7.2sq mi

People per sq mi

2,222

ZIP codes

0

Ferndale and its ZIP codes

Full map

Ferndale at a glance

  • Ferndale is about 19 times as dense as Washington as a whole.
  • It is the 89th most populous of 628 cities and towns in Washington.
  • Households here earn a median of $87,579 a year, 11% less than the Washington figure of $98,141.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $549,300 and median rent is $1,477 a month.

Local data for Ferndale, WA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Ferndale, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$87,579

Poverty rate

12.8%

Median home value

$549,300

Median rent

$1,477/mo

Homeownership

67.6%

Bachelor's or higher

36.9%

Median age

35.1

Average commute

21.6 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,704), Irish Americans (1,471), Mexican Americans (1,134).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Whatcom County. PPP loans are for Ferndale.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Sep 2026, -0.4 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$69,434

93,720 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$65,622

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$1.6B

FY 2026, $7,063 per person

Whatcom County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Ferndale, WA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone76.3%
  • Carpooled4.7%
  • Public transit0.5%
  • Walked1.7%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.7%
  • Worked from home15.2%

Average one-way commute: 21.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Ferndale, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: avalanche

Storm events since 1996

21

Countywide, mostly heavy rain

Flood insurance policies

1,497

1.9% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

73° / 34°F

34.7 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Ferndale, WA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

27.2%

U.S. 33.3% -6.1 pts

Diabetes

8.5%

U.S. 12.1% -3.6 pts

Smoking

11.5%

U.S. 12.8% -1.3 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

8.6%

U.S. 11.1% -2.5 pts

Cities near Ferndale

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
CusterCensus-designated place4.4 mi2.2
Marietta-AlderwoodCensus-designated place5 mi5.8
Birch BayCensus-designated place7.2 mi17.1
LyndenCity8.9 mi5.5
BellinghamCity9.8 mi28.2
BlaineCity10 mi5.6
EversonCity12 mi1.5
GenevaCensus-designated place12 mi1.4
NooksackCity14 mi0.9
Sudden ValleyCensus-designated place15 mi4.3
DemingCensus-designated place17 mi2.8
SumasCity18 mi1.5
AcmeCensus-designated place20 mi1.5
AlgerCensus-designated place20 mi2.6
EdisonCensus-designated place22 mi1.3
Peaceful ValleyCensus-designated place22 mi2.5

Frequently asked questions

What county is Ferndale, WA in?
Ferndale is in Whatcom County, Washington.
What is the population of Ferndale, WA?
About 15,999 people live in Ferndale, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Ferndale?
Nearby places include Custer (4.4 mi), Marietta-Alderwood (5 mi), Birch Bay (7.2 mi), Lynden (8.9 mi), Bellingham (9.8 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023