Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Ferndale’s best subject grades are an A− for walkability and cost of living; its weakest is a C for incomes. 15% of residents live below the poverty line in Ferndale, above both Pennsylvania’s towns (7.6%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Ferndale has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Ferndale beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Ferndale is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 224 in 1900, a peak of 2,742 in 1930, 1,547 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2018 and 3 maps from 1904 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ferndale, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Ferndale.
Most working residents leave Ferndale for work: only 3% work in town. At 20 minutes, Ferndale’s average trip to work is against 26 minutes in Pennsylvania’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Since 2013, Ferndale has lost 77 jobs, to 298 in 2023.
| Ferndale | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.9% | 6.3% | 8% |
| Work from home | 10% | 12% | 11% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Its public schools are run by Ferndale Area SD. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndale Area JSHSLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 284 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Ferndale has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Ferndale’s July high is 83°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 63% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 10 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Ferndale.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Ferndale's reported crime rate is well below Pennsylvania's. The property crime rate in Ferndale is 1.3 per 1,000 residents. Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2023.
| Ferndale | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 1.3 per 1,000 residents | 7.6 | 13.1 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 0.7 per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.8 |
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
Ferndale tracks Pennsylvania closely on all 26 CDC measures. 39% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Ferndale.
| Ferndale | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 24% | 23% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 38% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 17% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 16% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ferndale Borough Recreational Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
68% of Ferndale households own their home.
| Ferndale | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $845 a month | $1,115 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 68% | 78% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Ferndale. Close and well known come first.
Big draw14 mi National MemorialFlight 93 National Memorial286K visitors a year
Big draw39 mi MuseumFallingwater
9 mi DamSouth Fork Dam
37 mi MountainMount Davis
6 mi National Historic SiteAllegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site163K visitors a year19 mi Theme parkIdlewild and Soak ZoneFlight 93 National Memorial: James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fallingwater: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · South Fork Dam: Ernest Walter Histed, Public domain · Mount Davis: Wikiuser100, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site: Matthew A. Lynn; Original uploader was Mosamiazaz at en.wikipedia, Public domain
3 within 15 miles of the center of Ferndale
About 3 of every 100 Ferndale residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
Where Ferndale’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Ferndale is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, Ferndale had a population of 1,547.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. The typical home is worth about $83,000, 71% below the Pennsylvania typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.
