City · 15,999 residents · Whatcom County, Washington
Ferndale, Washington
In Ferndale, a typical home is worth $549,300 and typical rent is $1,477 a month. Compared with all of Whatcom County, typical household income is 7% higher and the typical home value is 6% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $539,567 to $610,926.
Typical rent
$2,110a month
▲ 2.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2023 to September 2026: from $1,941 to $2,110.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Ferndale is in Whatcom County. The FHA loan limit ($664,700 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Whatcom County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Birch Bay, the typical rent is $1,222: 17% less than in Ferndale ($1,477).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
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
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Ferndale
Whatcom County
Washington
United States
Kind of home: Ferndale and its comparisons
Measure
Ferndale
Whatcom County
Washington
United States
Detached house
64%
63%
62%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
4%
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
9%
7%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
20%
22%
19%
Mobile home
7%
6%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
As in Whatcom County, most homes in Ferndale are detached houses (64%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Ferndale
Whatcom County
Washington
United States
Year built: Ferndale and its comparisons
Measure
Ferndale
Whatcom County
Washington
United States
Before 1960
9%
18%
21%
26%
1960–1979
18%
22%
23%
24%
1980–1999
26%
28%
27%
25%
2000–2009
20%
18%
15%
14%
2010 or later
27%
15%
14%
11%
Here half of the homes date from 1998 or later; in Whatcom County, from 1989 or later.
In Ferndale, 69% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, more than in Whatcom County (59%).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K7%
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500K26%
$500K–$750K42%
$750K–$1M15%
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Ferndale and its comparisons
Measure
Ferndale
Under $100K
7%
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
26%
$500K–$750K
42%
$750K–$1M
15%
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49939%
$1,500–$1,99924%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Ferndale and its comparisons
Measure
Ferndale
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
39%
$1,500–$1,999
24%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,393 a month
Whatcom County: $2,307 a month
Without a mortgage
$741 a month
Whatcom County: $735 a month
Owners with a mortgage
74%
Whatcom County: 63%
Owning costs about the same in Ferndale as in Whatcom County: with a mortgage, $2,393 a month; without one, $741.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Ferndale+83%
Whatcom County+70%
Washington+67%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Ferndale+48%
Whatcom County+47%
Washington+40%
United States+33%
Typical household income
FerndaleNo clear change
Whatcom County+30%
Washington+33%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Ferndale and its comparisons
Measure
Ferndale
Whatcom County
Washington
United States
Typical home value
+83%
+70%
+67%
+53%
Typical rent
+48%
+47%
+40%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+30%
+33%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Ferndale gained value faster than in Whatcom County: 83% against 70%.
The typical rent in Ferndale rose 48% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Whatcom County (47%).
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Ferndale and its comparisons
Measure
Ferndale
Whatcom County
Washington
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.6%
4.5%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.7%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
3.7%
3.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.72
2.40
2.50
2.53
Drive alone
76%
69%
63%
69%
Carpool
5%
8%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
6%
4%
3%
Work from home
15%
15%
20%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
More people live in each home here: 2.72 on average, against 2.40 in Whatcom County.
To get to work, 76% of workers in Ferndale drive alone; in Whatcom County, 69%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Ferndale?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Ferndale, worth $549,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 61% of the typical household income in Ferndale, which is $87,579 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $190,151 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Whatcom County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Ferndale. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $19,226 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$4,437
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$539,350
Total interest
$775,999
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $9,276 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,044 a month
Tight
$2,044 to $2,627 a month
Hard
more than $2,627 a month
Your payment · 61%
Compared with the typical household income in Ferndale ($87,579 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$3,654
Property tax
$311
Home insurance
$229
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$243
You need at least $19,226 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
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.
Total monthly payment $4,437; principal and interest $3,654.
The city and its county
Ferndale and Whatcom County
Ferndale is in Whatcom County, Washington. 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
Map of Whatcom County, Washington, with Ferndale marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Ferndale
Whatcom County
Other cities with a page
Ferndale's own numbers
Typical home value
$549,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,477
Typical yearly household income
$87,579
Households that own their home
68%
Effective property tax rate
0.68%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Whatcom County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$664,700
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,872
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.1%
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 Whatcom County.
A typical home in Ferndale is worth $549,300: 6% below the county and 3% below Washington. With the typical household income in Ferndale ($87,579 a year), a typical home costs 6.3 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.
Ferndale6.3 years
Whatcom7.2 years
Washington5.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Whatcom County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Whatcom County rose 121% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Whatcom County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Whatcom County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +7.5% +7.5% 2016
2017: +11.1% +11.1% 2017
2018: +9.5% +9.5% 2018
2019: +7.4% +7.4% 2019
2020: +4.8% +4.8% 2020
2021: +14.6% +14.6% 2021
2022: +18.0% +18.0% 2022
2023: +1.0% +1.0% 2023
2024: +7.5% +7.5% 2024
2025: +2.1% +2.1% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Whatcom County, Washington and the United States
Period
County
Washington
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.1%
+1.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+50%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+121%
+113%
+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 Whatcom County, Washington and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Ferndale$549,300
Whatcom$585,800
Washington$564,600
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Ferndale$1,477
Whatcom$1,555
Washington$1,760
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Ferndale$87,579
Whatcom$81,784
Washington$98,141
United States$80,734
See the full table
Ferndale next to Whatcom County and Washington
Measure
Ferndale
Whatcom County
Washington
U.S.
Typical home value
$549,300 ▼6% below the county
$585,800
$564,600
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,477 ▼5% below the county
$1,555
$1,760
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$87,579 ▲7% above the county
$81,784
$98,141
$80,734
Households that own their home
68% ▲4 points above the county
64%
64%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,712 ▼9% below the county
$4,087
$4,556
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.68% ▼0.02 points below the county
0.7%
0.81%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
59% ▼1 points below the county
60%
50%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Whatcom 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 $549,300 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$4,437a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$19,226
Cash to close
$35,705
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $243
Conventional, 5% down$4,336a month
Down payment
$27,465
Cash to close
$43,944
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $261
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$3,517a month
Down payment
$109,860
Cash to close
$126,339
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$4,025a month
Down payment
$82,395
Cash to close
$98,874
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Ferndale
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$4,437
$19,226
$539,351
7.18%
FHA MIP · $243
$35,705
580
Conventional, 5% down
$4,336
$27,465
$521,835
7.18%
PMI · $261
$43,944
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$3,517
$109,860
$439,440
7.18%
None
$126,339
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$4,025
$82,395
$466,905
8.18%
None
$98,874
Set by the lender
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.
Typical rent in Ferndale is $1,477 a month: 5% below the county. In Ferndale, 59% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Whatcom County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,872 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $36.00 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Whatcom County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,489
$28.63
$59,560
1 bedroom
$1,529
$29.40
$61,160
2 bedrooms
$1,872
$36.00
$74,880
3 bedrooms
$2,545
$48.94
$101,800
4 bedrooms
$3,129
$60.17
$125,160
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 98248.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,790: $82 less than the fair market rent for Whatcom County ($1,872).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Ferndale, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
98248
$1,420
$1,460
$1,790
$2,430
$2,990
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
98248 $1,790$2,430
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 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Ferndale. These are the largest.
Beacon Manor Apartments2308 Douglas Rd, Ferndale 9824851 homes, 50 low-income · 2 bd: 17 · 3 bd: 21 · 4 bd: 13 · In service since 1998 · For people with disabilities, families
Ferndale Villa2348 Main St, Ferndale 9824838 low-income homes · For families(360) 384-3304
Ferndale Square2254A Main St, Ferndale 9824830 low-income homes · For families(360) 384-4520
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 is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Whatcom County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Ferndale or Whatcom County. The ones below are statewide in Washington: they work in Ferndale the same as in the rest of the state.
Washington state commission 0% second mortgage for 3%, 4% or 5% of the first mortgage, with no monthly payments; you do not need to be a first-time buyer.Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
Washington state commission loan with no monthly payments of up to 20% of the price (maximum $150,000) plus closing costs, for first-time buyers whose family lived in Washington before 1968 and belonged to a group affected by housing discrimination, including Hispanic people.Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
Washington state commission loan of up to $15,000 at 1% simple interest, with no monthly payments, for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers with the House Key Opportunity mortgage.Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
No legal help resource on our list is for Ferndale or Whatcom County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Ferndale and all of Whatcom 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 $549,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Whatcom County it is $585,800.
How much does it cost to rent in Ferndale?
Typical rent in Ferndale is $1,477 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Whatcom County is $1,872.
What is the FHA loan limit in Ferndale?
Ferndale uses the FHA limit for all of Whatcom County (2026): $664,700 for a one-unit home and $1,278,300 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Ferndale?
The typical homeowner in Ferndale pays $3,712 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.68% of the home’s value; in Whatcom County, the rate is 0.7%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Ferndale?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Whatcom County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
