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City · 19,190 residents · Oakland County, Michigan

Ferndale , Michigan

In Ferndale, a typical home is worth $247,700 and typical rent is $1,311 a month. Compared with all of Oakland County, the typical home value is 28% lower and the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $247,700

    28% below the county

    7% above Michigan

    • Ferndale
    • Oakland
    • Michigan

  • Typical rent

    $1,311a month

    5% below the county

    16% above Michigan

    • Ferndale
    • Oakland
    • Michigan

  • Typical household income

    $94,640a year

    3% below the county

    30% above Michigan

    • Ferndale
    • Oakland
    • Michigan

  • Households that own their home

    67%

    6 points below the county

    7 points below Michigan

    • Ferndale
    • Oakland
    • Michigan

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$246,062
1.7% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,654 a month
4.6% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Ferndale is in Oakland County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Oakland County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Ferndale apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Hazel Park, the typical home value is $158,600: 36% less than in Ferndale ($247,700).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Ferndale fell 1.7%; in Michigan, it rose 3.8%.

  3. The typical home in Ferndale is worth $247,700, 28% less than in Oakland County as a whole ($343,600).

  4. Ferndale has the 13th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 168 cities in Michigan with more than 5,000 people (37%).

  5. 67% of households in Ferndale own their home, against 73% in Oakland County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Ferndale

What homes there are in Ferndale, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Ferndale, 8 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Oakland County, 7.

Year built

In Ferndale, half of the homes were built before 1945; in Oakland County, before 1975.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for Oakland County is $541,287, and about 97% of owner-occupied homes in Ferndale are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,669 a month

Oakland County: $1,998 a month

Without a mortgage

$590 a month

Oakland County: $778 a month

Owners with a mortgage

78%

Oakland County: 65%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Ferndale is $1,669 a month, less than in Oakland County ($1,998); without one, $590.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Ferndale gained value faster than in Oakland County: 53% against 42%.

Much as in Oakland County, the typical rent in Ferndale rose 27% since 2015–2019.

The typical household income in Ferndale rose 32% over that time; home values changed +53% and rent +27%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureFerndaleOakland CountyMichiganUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.4%5.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.4%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.2%1.6%3.4%
People per household 1.852.392.422.53
Drive alone 65%71%74%69%
Carpool 4%6%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%1%3%
Walk or bike 3%1%2%3%
Work from home 28%20%14%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Ferndale has 1.85 people, fewer than in Oakland County (2.39).

Working from home is more common in Ferndale: 28%, against 20% in Oakland County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Ferndale?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Ferndale, worth $247,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 28% of the typical household income in Ferndale, which is $94,640 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Oakland County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Ferndale. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,670 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,182

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$243,213
Total interest
$349,926
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,183 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,208 a month

    Your payment · 28%

  • Tight

    $2,208 to $2,839 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,839 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Ferndale ($94,640 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,182
Principal & interest$1,648
Property tax$322
Home insurance$103
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$110

You need at least $8,670 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Ferndale and Oakland County

Ferndale is in Oakland County, Michigan. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Ferndale's own numbers

Typical home value
$247,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,311
Typical yearly household income
$94,640
Households that own their home
67%
Effective property tax rate
1.56%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Oakland County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,459
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+45%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Oakland County.

Everything about Oakland County

Buying

Buying a home in Ferndale

A typical home in Ferndale is worth $247,700: 28% below the county and 7% above Michigan. With the typical household income in Ferndale ($94,640 a year), a typical home costs 2.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Ferndale 2.6 years
  • Oakland 3.5 years
  • Michigan 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Oakland County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Oakland County rose 85% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Oakland County.

Period County Michigan U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.2% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +45% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +85% +97% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Ferndale next to Oakland County, Michigan and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Ferndale $247,700
  • Oakland $343,600
  • Michigan $231,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Ferndale $1,311
  • Oakland $1,376
  • Michigan $1,129
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Ferndale $94,640
  • Oakland $97,760
  • Michigan $72,875
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Ferndale next to Oakland County and Michigan
Measure Ferndale Oakland County Michigan U.S.
Typical home value $247,700 $343,600 $231,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,311 $1,376 $1,129 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $94,640 $97,760 $72,875 $80,734
Households that own their home 67% 73% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,867 $4,371 $2,904 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.56% 1.27% 1.25% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 37% 45% 50% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Oakland County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Ferndale

For a typical $247,700 home in Ferndale, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Ferndale's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,182a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,670
    Cash to close
    $16,101
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $110

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,137a month

    Down payment
    $12,385
    Cash to close
    $19,816
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $118

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,768a month

    Down payment
    $49,540
    Cash to close
    $56,971
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,997a month

    Down payment
    $37,155
    Cash to close
    $44,586
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Ferndale and for Oakland County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Ferndale

1.56%of the home’s value each year

$3,867 a year for the typical owner in Ferndale.

  • Ferndale 1.56%
  • Oakland 1.27%
  • Michigan 1.25%

What Michigan publishes Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) from school operating tax (Michigan Legislature (Michigan Compiled Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Michigan

Flood risk in Oakland County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Oakland County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.4%
1,809
Of those, with NFIP insurance
21%
County Michigan U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.4% 1.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 21% 18% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Ferndale

Typical rent in Ferndale is $1,311 a month: 5% below the county. In Ferndale, 37% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Oakland County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,459 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $28.06 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Oakland County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,047 $20.13 $41,880
1 bedroom $1,167 $22.44 $46,680
2 bedrooms $1,459 $28.06 $58,360
3 bedrooms $1,777 $34.17 $71,080
4 bedrooms $1,929 $37.10 $77,160

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Ferndale

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Ferndale is in ZIP code 48220.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,630: $171 more than the fair market rent for Oakland County ($1,459).

  • 48220 $1,630$1,980

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Ferndale when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Ferndale

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Ferndale. These are the largest.

  • Royal Oak Tower 20800 Wyoming St, Ferndale 48220 200 homes, 198 low-income · 1 bd: 190 · 2 bd: 10 · In service since 2003 · For older adults
  • Autumn House 415 Withington St, Ferndale 48220 168 homes, 166 low-income · Run by Ferndale Housing Commission · Average payment: $419 a month · Average wait: 73 months · Homes at several sites (248) 547-9500
  • Project Unnamed 10149 Pasadena Ave, Ferndale 48220 128 low-income homes · Run by Royal Oak Township Housing Commission · Average payment: $465 a month · Average wait: 87 months · Homes at several sites (248) 398-8101
  • Devon Square 1225 Orchard St, Ferndale 48220 60 low-income homes · 1 bd: 48 · 2 bd: 12 · In service since 2010 · For older adults, families (248) 541-7128

See all 107 buildings in Oakland County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Ferndale

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 7 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Oakland County; 5 say they serve in Spanish.

An older man and his daughter go over papers with a professional.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Ferndale

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Ferndale or Oakland County. The ones below are statewide in Michigan: they work in Ferndale the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Michigan

  • MI 10K DPA Loan

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state agency loan of up to $10,000, with no interest and no monthly payments, for the down payment, closing costs and prepaid expenses; it goes with MSHDA's MI Home Loan mortgage and is repaid in certain cases, such as when you pay off the first mortgage, sell or refinance the home, or no longer live in it. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Michigan

    Michigan state authority certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, for the life of the loan; you apply with an approved lender before you buy. Offered by Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Ferndale

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Ferndale, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Nid-Hca Borrower Help Center

    19966 Livernois Ave, Detroit · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (313) 338-3840

  • Michigan State University Extension Service -Wayne Detroit

    1360 Oakman Blvd, Detroit · 4 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (313) 494-4965

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Detroit Mi

    12380 Woodward Ave, Highland Park · 5 miles away · Spanish

    (281) 204-6222

Every agency in Oakland County All counseling agencies in Michigan

Help in Spanish near Ferndale

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Ferndale

HUD’s record names them for Ferndale or Oakland County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Ferndale Housing Commission Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (248) 547-9500

4 other authorities have an office in Oakland County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Oakland County

These cities are also in Oakland County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Oakland County Housing in Michigan
See 11 more cities in Oakland County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Ferndale, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Oakland County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Ferndale.

All guides
Two parents walk hand in hand with their little daughter.

Questions

Housing questions about Ferndale

Short answers with the numbers for Ferndale and all of Oakland County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Ferndale?

The typical home value in Ferndale is $247,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Oakland County it is $343,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Ferndale?

Typical rent in Ferndale is $1,311 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Oakland County is $1,459.

What is the FHA loan limit in Ferndale?

Ferndale uses the FHA limit for all of Oakland County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Ferndale?

The typical homeowner in Ferndale pays $3,867 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.56% of the home’s value; in Oakland County, the rate is 1.27%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Ferndale?

There are 7 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Oakland County. 5 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).