The Town FilesFerndale, Washington
City in Whatcom County · population 15,048 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $549,300
- Household income
- $87,579
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 35.1
Ferndale is a city of 15,048 people in Whatcom County, Washington. The median home is worth $549,300, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks easier by car than 89% of Washington towns, better for a vacation home than 84% of Washington towns, more seaside character than 75% of Washington towns.
How Ferndale ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ferndale is worth $549,300, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $87,579, which is more affordable than 23% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,477 a month. 67.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ferndale | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $549,300 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,477 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $87,579 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 67.6% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ferndale
| People | Ferndale | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Ferndale
July highs average 72.7°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 6.8 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Ferndale since 1950.
Severe weather in Whatcom County since 1996
Whatcom County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 5, 2022 | Flood | DR-4635: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 23, 2020 | Flood | DR-4539: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Whatcom County
Whatcom County had 93,430 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,174 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Ferndale itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Ferndale
11 public schools with 4,238 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndale High School | 9-12 | 1,338 | 18.8 |
| Vista Middle School | 6-8 | 536 | 15.8 |
| Skyline Elementary School | K-5 | 493 | 14.9 |
| Eagleridge Elementary | K-5 | 479 | 14.1 |
| Cascadia Elementary | K-5 | 443 | 13.0 |
| Horizon Middle School | 6-8 | 413 | 15.3 |
| Central Elementary | PK-5 | 321 | 14.0 |
| Ferndale Virtual Academy | K-12 | 123 | — |
| FERNDALE RE-ENGAGEMENT | 9-12 | 41 | — |
| Mountain View Elementary | PK-8 | 39 | 6.5 |
| Ferndale Special Services | PK-PK | 12 | — |
Towns near Ferndale
- Marietta-Alderwood, WA4.8 mi · 4,015 people · home $547,100
- Birch Bay, WA8.5 mi · 10,115 people · home $477,200
- Bellingham, WA8.8 mi · 91,482 people · home $627,500
- Lynden, WA9.1 mi · 15,749 people · home $596,600
- Geneva, WA11.3 mi · 2,652 people · home $801,100
- Everson, WA11.5 mi · 2,888 people · home $450,300
- Blaine, WA11.7 mi · 5,884 people · home $549,600
- Sudden Valley, WA14.4 mi · 6,354 people · home $489,200
Ferndale questions
Is Ferndale, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ferndale scores better for retirees than 37% of Washington towns and quieter than 32%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Ferndale?
The median owner-occupied home in Ferndale is valued at $549,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,579, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $1,477 a month.
What is the weather like in Ferndale?
July highs average 72.7°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 6.8 inches of snow.
Does Ferndale get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Ferndale in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)