Fairview-Ferndale, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Fairview-Ferndale is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Northumberland County. The total population is 1,742. It ranks as the 717th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Fairview-Ferndale is 54.4 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. Only 11.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 15.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Fairview-Ferndale is $43,359. This is 44% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.3%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $86,800. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Fairview-Ferndale is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 87.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Fairview-Ferndale has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.5%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 10.3%.

Education

12.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Fairview-Ferndale, Pennsylvania is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.