Residential delivery area · Washington
ZIP Code 98248: Ferndale, WA
ZIP code 98248 uses the postal name Ferndale, Washington and lies entirely in Whatcom County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 28,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $91,060 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 10% of its land lies in Ferndale, and 2% in smaller places; 88% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Ferndale · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Whatcom County
- Census places
- Ferndale
- Metro area
- Bellingham, WA
- House district
- WA-2 119th Congress
- State
- Washington
- Time zone
- Pacific
- Land area
- 71.8 sq mi · 397 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 98248?
98248 centers on 48.866°, -122.623° and covers 71.8 square miles of land plus 2.2 of water. It borders 4 ZIP codes: 98240, 98230, 98264, 98226.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 98248, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 98248 compare with the rest of Whatcom County?
| Measure | 98248 | In Whatcom County | In WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 28,498 | 4th of 18 | 114th of 605 |
| Median household income | $91k | 6th of 14 | 189th of 363 |
| Median home value | $590k | 6th of 15 | 138th of 392 |
Its median household income is higher than in 74% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 70% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 98248?
The 2020 Census counted 26,784 people in 98248; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 28,498. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 19.8% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 28,498
- 2020 Census count
- 26,784+19.8% since 2010 (22,361)
- Households
- 10,083
- Median age
- 37.7
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 98248?
Of the 28,498 people the ACS estimates in 98248, 22.8% are under 18 and 18.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (75.0%).
- Under 1822.8%
- 18 to 6459.0%
- 65 and older18.1%
- White, not Hispanic75.0%
- Hispanic or Latino9.5%
- Other or two or more8.5%
- Asian, not Hispanic6.5%
- Black, not Hispanic0.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 98248 earn?
Median household income is $91,060 (ACS 2020-2024), the 6th highest of the 14 ranked ZIP codes in Whatcom County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($94,091 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $91,060
- Income per person
- $46,916
- Below the poverty line
- 10.3%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 33.8%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $87,64913,040 returns; wages 67% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 98248?
FHFA's house price index for 98248, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 114% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 46% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +1.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $589,600
- Median gross rent
- $1,469
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 76.7%
- Housing units
- 10,799
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 98248?
765 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 108 more than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction149
- Retail trade71
- Manufacturing68
- Professional, scientific, and technical services62
- Other services (except public administration)58
- Wholesale trade55
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 98248?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98240 | Custer | 3,593 | $110k | 5.7 mi |
| 98230 | Blaine | 18,744 | $87k | 7.1 mi |
| 98264 | Lynden | 23,123 | $104k | 9.6 mi |
| 98226 | Bellingham | 46,782 | $79k | 9.9 mi |
| 98225 | Bellingham | 50,216 | $64k | 9.1 mi (near) |
| 98262 | Lummi Island | 957 | $83k | 12.0 mi (near) |
| 98247 | Everson | 9,115 | $89k | 14.2 mi (near) |
| 98276 | Nooksack | 1,794 | $97k | 14.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.