The Town FilesFerndale, Michigan
City in Oakland County · population 19,190 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,700
- Household income
- $94,640
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 37.3
Ferndale is a city of 19,190 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $247,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 100% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 100% of Michigan towns.
How Ferndale ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ferndale is worth $247,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $94,640, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,311 a month. 66.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ferndale | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,311 | $955 |
| Median household income | $94,640 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ferndale
| People | Ferndale | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 9.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 28.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ferndale
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 19.8°F. About 29.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ferndale since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 4, 1957 about 4.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 113 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 2, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on November 13, 1955.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Ferndale itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Ferndale
8 public schools with 3,021 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndale High School | 9-12 | 734 | 19.8 |
| Ferndale Middle School | 6-8 | 521 | 18.6 |
| University High School | 9-12 | 494 | 22.5 |
| Ferndale Lower Elementary Campus | K-3 | 475 | 14.8 |
| Tri County Educational Center | 9-12 | 373 | 33.9 |
| Webb Elementary School | PK-12 | 324 | 10.8 |
| Edison | K-12 | 63 | 7.0 |
| Jardon Vocational School | PK-12 | 37 | 5.3 |
Towns near Ferndale
- Pleasant Ridge, MI1.1 mi · 2,627 people · home $448,700
- Hazel Park, MI1.7 mi · 14,983 people · home $158,600
- Huntington Woods, MI2.4 mi · 6,388 people · home $473,900
- Oak Park, MI2.6 mi · 29,560 people · home $212,300
- Royal Oak, MI3.5 mi · 58,211 people · home $328,700
- Madison Heights, MI3.6 mi · 28,468 people · home $199,100
- Berkley, MI3.9 mi · 15,194 people · home $316,700
- Highland Park, MI4.1 mi · 8,977 people · home $79,200
Ferndale questions
Is Ferndale, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ferndale scores better for retirees than 21% of Michigan towns and quieter than 8%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.3).
How much does a house cost in Ferndale?
The median owner-occupied home in Ferndale is valued at $247,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,640, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,311 a month.
What is the weather like in Ferndale?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 19.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 32.6 inches of snow.
Does Ferndale get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ferndale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 4, 1957. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)