Rensselaer, NY · standard
ZIP Code 12144
Rensselaer County, New York - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,555
- 419/sq mi High-density area
- $90,738
- Median income Above-median income area
- $249,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 38.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Rensselaer pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 26%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 43%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 419
- people per sq mi
- 59%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 12144 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 12144 (Rensselaer, NY) rose +11.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 262.4 in 2023 to 292.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 12144 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Rensselaer, Rensselaer County, New York, with 20,555 residents across 49.0 square miles, a density of 419 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 12144 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $90,738 (2% below the average New York ZIP), while per-capita income is $46,062. The poverty rate is 11.0%, with unemployment at 3.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $249,700 (34% below the average New York ZIP), and median rent is $1,366; owner occupancy is 59.0%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 38.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.7, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Rensselaer County, so 12144 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 12144
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Rensselaer, NY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 12144.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
76 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
62 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
55 establishments
- Construction
Construction
48 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
45 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 12144, Rensselaer, NY · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
20,555
Population
49.0
Area (sq mi)
419
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 12144?
40.7
Median Age
48.1%
Male
51.9%
Female
7.9%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$90,738
Median Household Income
-2% vs state ZIP avg
$46,062
Per Capita Income
11.0%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment Rate
21.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 12144 ranks among New York ZIPs
Rensselaer, NY household income vs. every New York ZIP code
Median household income among 1,626 reporting New York ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$90,738 Top 40% higher than 60% of 1,626 New York ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more New York ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
10,563housing units
10,563
Total Housing Units
9,627
Occupied Units
936
Vacant Units
2.28
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$249,700
Median Home Value
-34% vs state ZIP avg
$1,366
Median Rent
1971
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+11.4%
YoY Change (2024)
292
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+192%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 12144 have increased 11.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +192% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.1% | 199 |
| 2021 | +11.3% | 222 |
| 2022 | +12.7% | 250 |
| 2023 | +5.0% | 262 |
| 2024 | +11.4% | 292 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 429 business establishments in ZIP 12144, employing approximately 11,684 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,209,396,000.
429
Businesses
11,684
Employees
$1.2B
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 76 | 17.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 62 | 14.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 55 | 12.8% |
| Construction | 48 | 11.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 45 | 10.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 40 | 9.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 22 | 5.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 18 | 4.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13 | 3.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 12 | 2.8% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 2.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 9 | 2.1% |
| Information | 6 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.2% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 12144 vs 12202 →
ZIP 12144 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 12144
Rensselaer (12144)
20,555 residents
- 12189
Watervliet (12189)
17,568 residents
- 12210
Albany (12210)
10,158 residents
- 12209
Albany (12209)
10,121 residents
- 12202
Albany (12202)
9,628 residents
- 12061
East Greenbush (12061)
9,050 residents
- 12033 7,851
Castleton On Hudson (12033)
7,851 residents
- 12204 7,349
Albany (12204)
7,349 residents
- 12077 6,246
Glenmont (12077)
6,246 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 12144 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 12144 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 12077
Glenmont (12077)
$118,257 median income
- 12061
East Greenbush (12061)
$110,962 median income
- 12196
West Sand Lake (12196)
$110,889 median income
- 12033
Castleton On Hudson (12033)
$98,569 median income
- 12144
Rensselaer (12144)
$90,738 median income
- 12209
Albany (12209)
$89,390 median income
- 12204
Albany (12204)
$74,841 median income
- 12189
Watervliet (12189)
$65,276 median income
- 12207
Albany (12207)
$58,998 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 12144 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12202 | Albany, NY | 9,628 | 2.3 mi |
| 12207 | Albany, NY | 1,948 | 2.4 mi |
| 12204 | Albany, NY | 7,349 | 4.1 mi |
| 12210 | Albany, NY | 10,158 | 2.9 mi |
| 12209 | Albany, NY | 10,121 | 3.7 mi |
| 12061 | East Greenbush, NY | 9,050 | 3.9 mi |
| 12077 | Glenmont, NY | 6,246 | 4.2 mi |
| 12196 | West Sand Lake, NY | 3,031 | 5.1 mi |
| 12033 | Castleton On Hudson, NY | 7,851 | 6.4 mi |
| 12189 | Watervliet, NY | 17,568 | 7.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 12144, both outside NY so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (20,555 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Rensselaer County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 12144 in?
ZIP code 12144 (Rensselaer) is located in Rensselaer County, New York. Rensselaer County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/rensselaer-ny.
What is the population of ZIP code 12144?
ZIP code 12144 in Rensselaer, NY has a population of 20,555 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 12144?
The median household income in ZIP 12144 is $90,738, which is 19% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 12144?
The median home value in ZIP 12144 is $249,700, which is 10% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 12144?
The largest racial group in ZIP 12144 is White at 76.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 12144?
ZIP code 12144 has 429 business establishments employing approximately 11,684 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 12144?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 12144 are: Retail trade (76), Accommodation and food services (62), Other services (except public administration) (55). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 12144?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 12144 increased by 11.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 192%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 12144?
In ZIP code 12144, 61.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 12144?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 12144 is 21.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 12144?
In ZIP code 12144, approximately 59.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 41.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 12144?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 12144 is 11.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 12144's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 12144 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Rensselaer, NY ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.