Rents are 5% below what Ferndale's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,654 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Ferndale usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 1.3% above it in July, about $43 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Ferndale is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Ferndale changed +5.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 79 Michigan cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.1%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Ferndale rose 33.9% while median household income rose 31.8% ($71,807 to $94,640). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Ferndale is 44.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($94,640) is $2,366 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,960).
Warren, 5 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,369/mo), about $3,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ferndale. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Ferndale, MI is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 57.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ferndale, MI has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Ferndale, MI stood at $1,262 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,654, reflecting a 31.1% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $79,181 in 2021 to $94,640 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.2% since 2021, moving from about 19,414 residents to roughly 19,190. College-educated residents now make up 57.9% of adults here, versus 53.1% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Ferndale, MI market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Ferndale on your salary?
At $1,654/mo, how Ferndale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ferndale rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ferndale. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ferndale
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ferndale is $1,654/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,060/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,480/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,170/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,810/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($94,640/yr), Ferndale ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Ferndale?
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Has rent outpaced income in Ferndale?
How does Ferndale rent compare to other cities in Michigan?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Ferndale?
At $1,654/mo, rent takes ~21% of Ferndale's median household income ($94,640/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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