Fernridge, New Zealand

Fernridge is a small rural settlement located 4 km northwest of Masterton, New Zealand. The area has a mixture of farms, horticultural smallholdings and lifestyle blocks.

Demographics
Upper Plain statistical area, which also includes Kaituna and Matahiwi, covers 84.91 km2. It had an estimated population of as of  with a population density of  people per km2.

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 85.23 km2. Using that boundary, Upper Plain had a population of 1,224 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 138 people (12.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 180 people (17.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 438 households, comprising 639 males and 585 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female. The median age was 46.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 249 people (20.3%) aged under 15 years, 156 (12.7%) aged 15 to 29, 576 (47.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 243 (19.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.4% European/Pākehā, 11.8% Māori, 2.2% Pasifika, 1.7% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.2% had no religion, 39.5% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 213 (21.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 174 (17.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 195 people (20.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 483 (49.5%) people were employed full-time, 156 (16.0%) were part-time, and 21 (2.2%) were unemployed.

Education
Fernridge School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, with a roll of  as of.