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Living in
Ferndale.
About
Life in Ferndale
Living in Ferndale means you're getting a genuine urban neighborhood feel without the Detroit price tag—median home values around $247,700 and median rents about $1,310 put you solidly in the affordable sweet spot for the metro area, especially considering the median household income hovers near $95,000. The job market is stable with an unemployment rate of 3.3%, and you're positioned on the Woodward Corridor, an easy 25-minute commute to downtown Detroit or other employment centers if you need it. The community skews young and educated (56.5% college degree rate, median age 35) with a strong LGBTQ+ presence that has shaped the city's identity since the early 2000s, plus active engagement in local politics and social issues that appeals to people who want more than just a bedroom community.
Ferndale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Foreign-Born
4.7%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.7% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Ferndale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ferndale, the largest foreign-born group is from India (25.8%), and 2.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
9.7%
of residents
65 and Older
11.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
12.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.2%
of households
Married Couples
29.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.85
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 16% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Ferndale
In Ferndale, rent runs 16% above the MI average, and home values are 7% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,867
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1945
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $246,062 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.9 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Ferndale and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Ferndale is 1.9 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Ferndale Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area
Commute23.2 min avg
How Ferndale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ferndale, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 39% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Ferndale runs 39% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
200.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,944.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Ferndale Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Oakland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Oakland County, which includes Ferndale, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,500 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18.0M |
| 2022 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $85,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.9M |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Oakland County, county-wide
Ferndale is about 2% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Oakland County, which includes Ferndale, is typically good — 242 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
242
per year
Moderate Days
99
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Oakland County, county-wide
Ferndale is about 2% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ferndale has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
29.9"
Annual Snowfall
30.8"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
112
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 20°F | 1.45" |
| Feb | 35°F | 21°F | 1.41" |
| Mar | 45°F | 28°F | 2.02" |
| Apr | 58°F | 39°F | 2.82" |
| May | 70°F | 50°F | 3.49" |
| Jun | 79°F | 60°F | 3.10" |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 3.22" |
| Aug | 81°F | 64°F | 3.10" |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 3.09" |
| Oct | 61°F | 45°F | 2.30" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 2.16" |
| Dec | 37°F | 26°F | 1.73" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ferndale
Ferndale has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
Henry Ford Health Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · 2.5 mi away · Warren
Surgeons Choice Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.6 mi away · Southfield
Sinai-grace Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Detroit
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ferndale
Ferndale's student/teacher ratio is 16.3:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 57.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
57.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Ferndale (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 15,587 students · in-state tuition $15,862 · 61% graduate · median earnings $59,525 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,876 students · in-state tuition $3,745 · 18% graduate · median earnings $44,976 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 12,748 students · in-state tuition $3,220 · 31% graduate · median earnings $40,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Wayne County Community College District
9.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,423 students · in-state tuition $3,112 · 20% graduate · median earnings $34,732 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Michigan-Dearborn
11.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,952 students · in-state tuition $16,240 · 61% graduate · median earnings $66,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,438 students · in-state tuition $33,604 · 69% graduate · median earnings $74,106 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ferndale
Ferndale has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
40 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
58 mi awayPublic Libraries in Ferndale
Ferndale Public Library
222 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale
Cities Near Ferndale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ferndale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ferndale FAQ
Is Ferndale, Michigan affordable?⌄
Ferndale's median rent is $1,311/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $94,640/year. Median home value is $247,700.
Is Ferndale, Michigan safe?⌄
Ferndale's violent crime rate was 200 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1945 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ferndale, Michigan?⌄
Ferndale has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ferndale, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Ferndale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,311/month and median household income is $94,640/year. The median home value is $247,700. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ferndale, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Ferndale is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from