Photo: Ellin Beltz · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ferndale is healthier than 61%
Ferndale differs from California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ferndale. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ferndale
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Ferndale
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.1%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.4%), vs 6.4% across California. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.9%, vs 5.6% across California. In all, Ferndale runs above California on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 36% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and COPD, cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Ferndale, and more people treating it
37.9% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 78% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Ferndale
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Ferndale is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ferndale is healthier than 42%. Against the 9,606 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 61%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Ferndale’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Ferndale’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ferndale is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 81% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 21%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Ferndale’s median household income is $63,142; among the 9,606 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$79K), it’s healthier than 61%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Ferndale compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 6.4% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Ferndale adults…
Ferndale runs above CA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Ferndale is an older town: 36% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Ferndale as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ferndale adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
3.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Ferndale
1 community health center in Ferndale, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Ferndale; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Ferndale adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Ferndale runs above California.
1 in 3 Ferndale adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.8% of Ferndale adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Ferndale and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndale | C+ | 30.6% | 12.9% | 14% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ferndale adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ferndale
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ferndale is better than California on 6 and worse on 11; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Ferndale’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ferndale | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.2%19.7–27 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.1–18.4 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.3–20.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.6%24.8–37.3 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.9%11.1–14.8 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.9%34.1–42 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.7%35.6–43.9 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 31.9%28.6–35.4 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11%9.7–12.4 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.4%10.3–12.5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.1%7.6–10.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.1%10.6–15.8 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%11.5–16.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25%20.8–29.7 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.6–17.8 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.7%25.9–37.8 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.4%5.1–8.1 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.4%71.9–78.7 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.4%62.7–69.7 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.1%85.2–88.7 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%75–80.6 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.3%61.9–72.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%69.9–83.6 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22–29.1 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.9%27.7–38.1 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%20.5–28.3 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14%11.2–17 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.8%8.9–12.8 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.5%5.5–7.7 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.1%6.8–9.4 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.8%11.9–17.9 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.5%32.1–41.4 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.8%16–21.8 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%13.7–18.2 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.2–10.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.3%8.9–11.9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.1–5.5 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ferndale
Is Ferndale a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ferndale is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ferndale?
CDC estimates 30.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.8% and 37.3%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ferndale?
Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, 6.6 miles in a straight line from Ferndale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ferndale have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–8.1%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Ferndale more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ferndale.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.