University Heights receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Ferndale
University Heights
Opportunity
76 · Top 12%
vs68 · Top 27%
Growth
37 · Bottom 27%
vs43 · Bottom 37%
Climate
63 · Bottom 28%
vs69 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
94 · Top 5%
vs97 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs99 · Top 12%
Access
92 · Top 49%
vs95 · Top 37%
Economic stability
74 · Top 19%
vs61 · Top 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Ferndale | University Heights | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,190 | 13,394 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $94,640 | $96,971 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $62,094 | $44,523 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,950/sq mi | 7,335/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $247,700 | $242,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,311 | $1,507 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 67.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.2% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.9% | 67.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 11.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 33 | 10 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.7 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -60.7% | 42.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.9" | 33.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 20.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.3 | 30.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
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Ferndale
70
Your Score
69
Area Score
University Heights
76
Your Score
76
Area Score
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Full profiles: Ferndale, MI · University Heights, OH · How this is calculated: methodology