What it's like to live in Ferndale
Ferndale is a small city in Washington with crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Ferndale deals with home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Ferndale compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Ferndale
Based on Ferndale's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,954
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,080 a year
- 55% of Ferndale renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$109,860
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $54,930
- Homes cost 6.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,477/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,477 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $549,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $549,300 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Whatcom County is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Whatcom County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 56% below US
146 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 1051/100k · Ferndale Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 71°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 34°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is San Juan Island National Historical Park (32 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Ferndale's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,477/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (15% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Ferndale
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