Zip code 98248: Ferndale, Washington

Q: What city is zip code 98248?

98248 is assigned to Ferndale, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 98248 in?

98248 is in Whatcom County, Washington.

Q: What is the population of 98248?

About 28,498 people live in 98248, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 98248?

The median household income in 98248 is $91,060.

Q: What zip codes are near 98248?

The closest zip codes to 98248 are 98240, 98230, 98225, 98227, 98228.

Residential delivery areaWhatcom CountyPacific Time

Population

28,498

Median household income

$91K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$590K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,469/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

72 sq mi

397 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 98248

98248 is a small-town zip code in Ferndale, Washington (Whatcom County), covering 72 sq mi of land. About 28,498 people live here, or 397 per square mile. The median resident is 37.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $91,060 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 10.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $589,600, or 6.5 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 77% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,469 a month.

34% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 22.4 minutes each way, and 16% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; management; and office and administrative support.

How 98248 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median home value$589,600
81st
U.S. $332,700 · WA $564,600154th of 536 in WA
Income inequality (Gini)0.476
79th
U.S. 0.483 · WA 0.46983rd of 560 in WA
Self-employed workers11.4%
72nd
U.S. 10% · WA 9.6%210th of 570 in WA
Homeownership rate76.7%
71st
U.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%256th of 563 in WA
Broadband access94.3%
69th
U.S. 91% · WA 93.6%208th of 563 in WA
Rent-burdened renters55.8%
69th
U.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%130th of 541 in WA
Per capita income$46,916
66th
U.S. $44,673 · WA $53,744216th of 570 in WA
Work from home16.2%
66th
U.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%217th of 570 in WA
Median earnings per worker$54,349
66th
U.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959263rd of 566 in WA
Median household income$91,060
63rd
U.S. $80,734 · WA $98,141232nd of 541 in WA
Veterans6.8%
63rd
U.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%379th of 571 in WA
Residents 65 and older18.1%
61st
U.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%308th of 571 in WA
Foreign-born residents13%
60th
U.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%162nd of 571 in WA
Tech workers3.3%
58th
U.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%225th of 570 in WA
Residents under 1822.8%
57th
U.S. 22% · WA 21.4%203rd of 571 in WA
Median gross rent$1,469
55th
U.S. $1,413 · WA $1,760225th of 475 in WA
Bachelor's degree or higher33.8%
54th
U.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%199th of 571 in WA
Housing vacancy6.6%
49th
U.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%305th of 563 in WA
Poverty rate10.3%
47th
U.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%257th of 563 in WA
Population28,498
46th
U.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,116114th of 571 in WA
Uninsured rate6%
43rd
U.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%265th of 567 in WA
Healthcare workers8.9%
41st
U.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%268th of 570 in WA
Median age37.7
40th
U.S. 38.9 · WA 38.3403rd of 571 in WA
Diversity index42.1
39th
U.S. 61.4 · WA 56.5260th of 571 in WA
Government workers12.3%
38th
U.S. 14.5% · WA 16%449th of 570 in WA
Population density397/sq mi
29th
U.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi223rd of 571 in WA
Average commute22.4 min
25th
U.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min386th of 546 in WA
Unemployment rate3.1%
18th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%414th of 570 in WA

Measure	98248	Whatcom	WA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WA
Median home value	$589,600	$585,800	$564,600	$332,700	81st	154th of 536
Income inequality (Gini)	0.476	0.462	0.469	0.483	79th	83rd of 560
Self-employed workers	11.4%	12.8%	9.6%	10%	72nd	210th of 570
Homeownership rate	76.7%	63.7%	63.8%	65.2%	71st	256th of 563
Broadband access	94.3%	93.7%	93.6%	91%	69th	208th of 563
Rent-burdened renters	55.8%	60.1%	49.9%	51.1%	69th	130th of 541
Per capita income	$46,916	$45,361	$53,744	$44,673	66th	216th of 570
Work from home	16.2%	14.8%	19.8%	15.1%	66th	217th of 570
Median earnings per worker	$54,349	$48,317	$59,959	$49,666	66th	263rd of 566
Median household income	$91,060	$81,784	$98,141	$80,734	63rd	232nd of 541
Veterans	6.8%	6.3%	7.8%	6.2%	63rd	379th of 571
Residents 65 and older	18.1%	18.9%	16.6%	17.2%	61st	308th of 571
Foreign-born residents	13%	9.9%	15.4%	14.1%	60th	162nd of 571
Tech workers	3.3%	2.9%	6.7%	3.8%	58th	225th of 570
Residents under 18	22.8%	18.5%	21.4%	22%	57th	203rd of 571
Median gross rent	$1,469	$1,555	$1,760	$1,413	55th	225th of 475
Bachelor's degree or higher	33.8%	39.3%	39.6%	35.7%	54th	199th of 571
Housing vacancy	6.6%	9.2%	7.3%	10.1%	49th	305th of 563
Poverty rate	10.3%	12.9%	9.9%	12.5%	47th	257th of 563
Population	28,498	230,503	7,816,116	334,922,499	46th	114th of 571
Uninsured rate	6%	5.8%	6.3%	8.4%	43rd	265th of 567
Healthcare workers	8.9%	9.6%	9.3%	9.7%	41st	268th of 570
Median age	37.7	38.4	38.3	38.9	40th	403rd of 571
Diversity index	42.1	40.9	56.5	61.4	39th	260th of 571
Government workers	12.3%	15.7%	16%	14.5%	38th	449th of 570
Population density	397/sq mi	109/sq mi	118/sq mi	95/sq mi	29th	223rd of 571
Average commute	22.4 min	21.6 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	25th	386th of 546
Unemployment rateStrength	3.1%	4.8%	5.1%	5.2%	18th	414th of 570

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

18%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

12%

35–44

12%

45–54

11%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

37.7

Under 18

22.8%

65 and over

18.1%

Race and ethnicity

White75%
Black0.5%
Hispanic10%
Asian7%
Native American2%
Pacific Islander0.0%
Other1%
Multiracial6%

Diversity index

42.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

13%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

53.7%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

81%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

11%

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.8%

Households

Households: 10,083
Average household size: 2.8
Family households: 73.2%
Married couples: 60.7%
Living alone: 20.1%
Veterans (of adults): 6.8%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

16%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

18%

$150–200k

12%

$200k+

15%

Median household income

98248

$91,060

Whatcom Co.

$81,784

Washington

$98,141

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$46,916

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

10.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

27.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.476

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

98248

$589,600

Whatcom Co.

$585,800

Washington

$564,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

98248

$1,469

Whatcom Co.

$1,555

Washington

$1,760

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

75%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

10%

Boat, RV, van

0.2%

Housing units: 10,799
Owner-occupied: 76.7%
Vacant: 6.6%
Median year built: 1994
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 55.8%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 27.4%
Home value to income: 6.5× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

74%

Carpooled

Transit

0.3%

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

16%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

13%

10–19

34%

20–29

34%

30–44

11%

45–59

60+

Average commute

22.4 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

61.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

12%

Management

10%

Office and admin

10%

Healthcare

Sales

Production

Business and finance

Transportation and moving

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Food service

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

13%

Manufacturing

13%

Construction

12%

Retail

11%

Education

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

Wholesale

Information

Median earnings per worker

$54,349

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

12.3%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

9.3%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	98248	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$78,284	$74,888
Service	$26,885	$26,804
Sales and office	$39,684	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$53,827	$49,199
Production and transportation	$55,256	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

24%

Some college

25%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

22%

Graduate

12%

High school graduate or higher: 93.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 33.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 12.2%
Households with broadband: 94.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 73.5%
No internet access: 4.9%
Without health insurance: 6%
Limited-English households: 1.6%

Geography

City (USPS): Ferndale
State: Washington
County: Whatcom County
Center point: 48.8656° N, 122.6232° W
Land area: 72 sq mi
Water area: 2.2 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Ferndale10% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 98248

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
98240	Custer, WA	5.7 mi	3,593	$110,116	$619,700
98230	Blaine, WA	7.1 mi	18,744	$86,623	$499,800
98225	Bellingham, WA	9.1 mi	50,216	$63,941	$631,200
98227	Bellingham, WA · PO box	9.6 mi	—	—	—
98228	Bellingham, WA · PO box	9.6 mi	—	—	—
98264	Lynden, WA	9.6 mi	23,123	$103,638	$609,100
98226	Bellingham, WA	9.9 mi	46,782	$79,375	$607,600
98231	Blaine, WA · PO box	11 mi	—	—	—
98262	Lummi Island, WA	12 mi	957	$83,000	$579,000
98247	Everson, WA	14 mi	9,115	$88,724	$564,400
98276	Nooksack, WA	14 mi	1,794	$97,159	$524,300
98229	Bellingham, WA	15 mi	33,298	$90,945	$633,500

Zip codes like 98248 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 98248

What city is zip code 98248?

98248 is assigned to Ferndale, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 98248 in?

98248 is in Whatcom County, Washington.

What is the population of 98248?

About 28,498 people live in 98248, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 98248 in?

98248 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 98248?

The median household income in 98248 is $91,060.

What zip codes are near 98248?

The closest zip codes to 98248 are 98240, 98230, 98225, 98227, 98228.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98248, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.