Ferndale, CA Demographics

Population 2,307 · Census ACS 2020–24

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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Ferndale, CA map of median age by neighborhood
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Population and households in Ferndale

Household size in Ferndale

Household size, people per household
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–102.473.042.68
2010–142.283.102.73
2015–192.513.092.71
2020–242.263.012.65
Change−0.20−0.03−0.03
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Ferndale is a place of small households, averaging 2.26 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.47 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.

Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).

Median age in Ferndale

Median age, years
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–1043.735.837.7
2010–1449.436.838.6
2015–1943.237.939.6
2020–2455.939.040.1
Change+12.2+3.1+2.3
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With a median age of 55.9, Ferndale is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.

Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).

Single-parent households in Ferndale

Single-parent households, % of households
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–108.5%13.5%12.3%
2010–149.2%13.5%12.3%
2015–1913.4%12.3%11.6%
2020–246.8%12.3%11.6%
Change−1.8 pts−1.2 pts−0.6 pts
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Single parents head only 6.8% of households in Ferndale, well below the national share of 11.6%.

Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).

Housing in Ferndale

Renters in Ferndale

Renters, % of occupied homes
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–1037.4%42.6%33.3%
2010–1437.8%45.2%35.6%
2015–1948.1%45.2%36.0%
2020–2437.1%44.1%34.8%
Change−0.3 pts+1.5 pts+1.5 pts
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Renting in Ferndale is about as common as it is nationally: 37.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in California as a whole (44.1%). About four in ten owners (39.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally.

Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).

Vacant homes in Ferndale

Vacant homes, % of all homes
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–1015.7%8.7%11.4%
2010–1416.4%8.1%11.4%
2015–1921.7%7.5%11.1%
2020–2418.5%7.3%9.6%
Change+2.8 pts−1.4 pts−1.8 pts
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Vacancy is high in Ferndale: 18.5% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.

Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).

Age of homes in Ferndale

Age of homes, median year built
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–10195319721974
2010–14195719731975
2015–19195119741977
2020–24195519761980
Change+2+4+6
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Ferndale is a place of older homes: half were built before 1955, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.

Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).

Rent in Ferndale

Rent, per month
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–10$805$1,298$965
2010–14$974$1,379$1,040
2015–19$1,105$1,721$1,213
2020–24$1,108$2,229$1,571
Change+$302+$931+$606
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The median renter in Ferndale pays $1,108 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 29.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.

Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).

Education in Ferndale

Bachelor's degrees in Ferndale

Bachelor's degrees, % of adults 25+
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–1024.5%29.1%28.4%
2010–1427.6%30.1%29.6%
2015–1926.5%32.9%32.1%
2020–2431.2%36.3%35.6%
Change+6.7 pts+7.1 pts+7.2 pts
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College degrees are a little less common in Ferndale than nationally: 31.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.

Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).

High school graduates in Ferndale

High school graduates, % of adults 25+
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–1093.3%79.9%84.9%
2010–1494.0%80.7%86.1%
2015–1993.3%82.6%87.7%
2020–2494.5%84.2%89.3%
Change+1.2 pts+4.3 pts+4.3 pts
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High school completion is high in Ferndale: 94.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.

High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).

Jobs in Ferndale

Unemployment, % of the labor force
PeriodFerndaleCaliforniaU.S.
2006–105.7%9.2%8.1%
2010–148.6%11.3%9.4%
2015–195.7%6.3%5.6%
2020–245.8%6.6%5.4%
Change+0.1 pts−2.6 pts−2.7 pts
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Unemployment in Ferndale is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in California overall (6.6%). Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.

Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).

Ferndale compared with nearby cities

CityHousehold sizeMedian ageSingle parentsRentersVacant homesMedian year builtMedian rentBachelor's degreeHigh school diplomaUnemployment
Ferndale2.2655.96.8%37.1%18.5%1955$1,10831.2%94.5%5.8%
Port Kenyon2.6044.512.1%25.4%28.8%1961$1,50917.9%94.5%6.8%
Fernbridge3.1239.49.0%36.5%2.4%1971$1,19936.5%96.5%22.1%
Loleta2.3942.99.1%52.5%6.2%1962$1,09432.1%94.0%13.3%
Fortuna2.5540.014.1%44.0%6.3%1980$1,20725.8%87.5%8.4%
Newburg2.6047.95.3%25.3%13.0%1968$1,18236.3%97.8%3.3%
Hydesville2.6249.89.8%9.2%12.0%1981$89225.2%97.3%9.5%
Rio Dell2.2437.513.7%42.9%11.1%1978$1,07315.5%93.5%16.8%
Scotia2.3539.412.1%47.0%22.8%1938$1,12034.3%96.7%8.7%
Fields Landing2.2130.96.0%36.0%22.8%1979$1,69112.9%80.4%24.1%
Carlotta2.6350.87.4%15.5%15.2%1973$98226.9%92.4%23.5%

All figures 2020–24.

Cities with similar populations: Conesus, NY · Huntsville, MO · North Eastham, MA · East McKeesport, PA · Donalds, SC · Delano, TN · New Durham, NH · Crofton, KY · Cornell, WI · Cascade, ID

About these numbers

Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Ferndale. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.

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