Ferndale, MI vs St. Joseph, MI

St. Joseph is moderately more affordable than Ferndale, with a 5.3% lower cost of living index. Ferndale scores 91 compared to 86 for St. Joseph, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Ferndale can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ferndale is $1,235/month compared to $1,079/month in St. Joseph — a 15% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Joseph has cheaper rent, Ferndale actually has lower median home values ($233,600 vs $271,100).

Median household income in Ferndale is $91,732 compared to $77,765 in St. Joseph (+18%). While Ferndale is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ferndale spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 16.7% in St. Joseph.