Ferndale is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, home to about 15,999 people across 7.0 square miles. Its ZIP code is 98248.
Homes sold for a median of $373 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Ferndale. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Ferndale’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)99 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Bellingham International Airport (BLI)5 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Seattle, WA87 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Ferndale; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Ferndale had 15,048 residents in the 2020 census, up 72% since 2000.
It’s the 89th largest of 628 towns in Washington by population.
Whatcom County grew from 24,116 residents in 1900 to 226,847 in 2020.
Whatcom County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 73°F in summer, and winter lows average 34°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Bellingham Intl Ap, WA weather station (5 miles away).
80,648 jobs at 7,146 businesses in Whatcom County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
122 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Ferndale.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 16 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 1 |
| Dentists | 22 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 14 |
| Mental health providers | 28 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 25 |
| Optometrists | 8 |
| Chiropractors | 8 |
| Pharmacies | 9 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (16 nearby)
Grocery stores (4 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums
Theaters and performance venues (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Established in 1872.
Notable people born here
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Ferndale School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central ElementaryFerndale | Pre-K–5 | 315 | Public | 1.2 mi |
| Ferndale Special ServicesFerndale | Pre-K | 20 | Special Education | 0.3 mi |
| Mountain View ElementaryFerndale | Pre-K–8 | 101 | Public | 0.9 mi |
| Cascadia ElementaryFerndale | K–5 | 440 | Public | 1.1 mi |
| Eagleridge ElementaryFerndale | K–5 | 457 | Public | 1.3 mi |
| Ferndale Virtual AcademyFerndale | K–12 | 154 | Public | 0.7 mi |
| Skyline Elementary SchoolFerndale | K–5 | 496 | Public | 0.4 mi |
| Horizon Middle SchoolFerndale | 6–8 | 433 | Public | 1.4 mi |
| Vista Middle SchoolFerndale | 6–8 | 550 | Public | 0.3 mi |
| Ferndale High SchoolFerndale | 9–12 | 1,325 | Public | 0.7 mi |
| Ferndale Re-EngagementFerndale | 9–12 | 33 | Alternative Education | 0.3 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadows Montessori SchoolFerndale | Pre-K–6 | 67 | Nonsectarian | 1.5 mi |
| Providence Christian School NwFerndale | Pre-K–11 | 38 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 0.6 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Custer.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.