Ferndale, Humboldt County, California Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Ferndale, California, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Ferndale, California. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Ferndale, California. The estimated population of Ferndale, California is 1,481 people, with a median age of 57.2.

We can look at the total population in Ferndale over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
1,481
+6.78%
+1.58%
2020
1,387
+0.73%
-
2019
1,377
+0.88%
-
2018
1,365
-6.38% -
2017
1,458
- -

Population of Ferndale, California by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
81.7%
91.4%
-10.61%
Black/African American
0%
0%
0.00%
Native
0.5%
0%
0.00%
Hispanic
9.2%
4.8%
+91.67%
Asian
3.7%
2%
+85.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
4.9%
1.9%
+157.89%
Other
0%
0%
0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Ferndale, California by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 57.2 +7.92% 57.1 +8.14% 57.4 +2.68%
2020 53 +30.22% 52.8 +30.05% 55.9 +31.84%
2019 40.7 -19.41% 40.6 -17.98% 42.4 -18.62%
2018 50.5 +10.75% 49.5 +1.85% 52.1 +20.05%
2017 45.6 - 48.6 - 43.4 -

The median age of Ferndale, California gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 78 -14.36% 58 -28.6% 65 41
10 to 19 91 -10.98% 112 -46.23% 73 59
20 to 29 47 +43.05% 97 +45.21% 61 123
30 to 39 79 -23.12% 91 -50.07% 58 45
40 to 49 68 +34.12% 45 +57.34% 90 70
50 to 59 133 -16.38% 84 -66.62% 101 37
60 to 69 82 +130.94% 100 +85.41% 199 181
70+ 135 -8.72% 158 1.04% 120 158

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Ferndale, California is $62,500.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Ferndale.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $62,014.00
  • 45 to 64
    $76,250.00
  • 65 and over
    $57,083.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Ferndale, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Ferndale, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Ferndale, California is currently $91,058.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

7.48% of households in Ferndale are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Ferndale against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    14.62%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    17.77%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    29.07%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.62%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    11.46%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.98%
  • $200,000 or more
    7.48%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Ferndale is $39,454.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Ferndale by the total population of Ferndale.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Ferndale, California, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Ferndale to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    13.88%
  • Bachelor's degree
    27.27%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    19.67%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    38.02%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.16%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Ferndale that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Ferndale over the age of 16 is 1,270.

Of those people, a total of 45.50% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Ferndale is 42.70%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 27 14.80% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 149 67.10% 24.00%
25 to 29 years 35 100.00% 0.00%
30 to 34 years 44 90.90% 30.00%
35 to 44 years 147 67.30% 0.00%
45 to 54 years 101 78.20% 0.00%
55 to 59 years 109 40.40% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 164 64.60% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 308 18.20% 0.00%
75 years and over 186 8.10% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Ferndale. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 1,086 43.70% 7.60%
Black or African American 0 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 8 75.00% 0.00%
Asian 43 100.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 28 60.70% 0.00%
Two or more races 105 35.20% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 130 44.60% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 1,051 44.20% 7.70%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Ferndale as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Ferndale is 542, with median earnings of $32,500.00.

Women in Ferndale, California earning approximately 62.60% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 542 $32,500.00
Male 335 $46,250.00
Female 207 $28,950.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 40 $61,071.00
Business and Financial 10 $0.00
Computer and Mathematical 8 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 43 $135,795.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 9 $0.00
Legal 15 $0.00
Educational and Library 34 $90,357.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 4 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 57 $31,827.00
Healthcare Support 11 $0.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 25 $34,375.00
Food Preparation and Serving 78 $17,656.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 1 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 20 $10,714.00
Sales 66 $52,500.00
Office and Administrative Support 27 $43,281.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 25 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 35 $51,528.00
Production 21 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 4 $0.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 16 $0.00 24 $31,111.00
Business and Financial 10 $0.00 0 $0.00
Computer and Mathematical 8 $0.00 0 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 43 $135,795.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Community and Social Service 9 $0.00 0 $0.00
Legal 0 $0.00 15 $0.00
Educational and Library 15 $0.00 19 $0.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 0 $0.00 4 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 47 $0.00 10 $0.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 11 $0.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 17 $74,583.00 8 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 34 $19,531.00 44 $14,667.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 0 $0.00 1 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 0 $0.00 20 $10,714.00
Sales 48 $55,682.00 18 $44,167.00
Office and Administrative Support 19 $0.00 8 $0.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 0 $0.00 25 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 35 $51,528.00 0 $0.00
Production 21 $0.00 0 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 4 $0.00 0 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 602 households in Ferndale, with an average household size of 2.46 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 398 families in Ferndale with an average family size of 3.01 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 278 41 79 204
Average Household Size 3.09 3 2.95 1.3
Total Families 278 41 79 0
Average Household Size 3.08 3 2.76 0

Poverty

Of the 398 families in Ferndale, 6.50% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Ferndale:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 705 housing units in Ferndale, California.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 602 85.39%
Vacant 103 14.61%

32.20% of the total 705 housing units in Ferndale are rental units. This is approximately 227 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 375 are occupied by the owner - or 53.19% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Ferndale is $1,115.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Ferndale that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    0
  • Less than $500
    0
  • $500 to $999
    90
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    70
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    51
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    8
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    8

Property Value

The median value of a property in Ferndale is $429,400.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Ferndale that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    0
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    0
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    0
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    0
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    21
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    271
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    83
  • $1,000,000 or more
    0

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Ferndale. The chart below shows the number of properties in Ferndale that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    329
  • 1940 to 1949
    57
  • 1950 to 1959
    89
  • 1960 to 1969
    53
  • 1970 to 1979
    21
  • 1980 to 1989
    14
  • 1990 to 1999
    107
  • 2000 to 2009
    27
  • 2010 to 2013
    8
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Ferndale that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    29
  • 1 vehicle available
    119
  • 2 vehicles available
    311
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    143

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Ferndale get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Ferndale that commute to work in a particular way.

25.3 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Ferndale.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    59
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    83
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    18
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    52
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    50
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    46
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    58
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    8
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    8
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    31
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    12
  • 90 or more minutes
    27

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Ferndale, California in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.