PlainZIP

Watervliet, NY · standard

ZIP Code 12189

Albany County, New York - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

17,568
1,065/sq mi
$65,276
Median income
$220,600
Median home value
28.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Watervliet pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.

39th pct
household income, US ZIPs
49th pct
home value, US ZIPs
1,065
people per sq mi
40%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 12189 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 12189 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Watervliet, Albany County, New York, home to 17,568 residents across 16.5 square miles, a density of 1,065 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 12189 reports a modest median household income of $65,276 (29% below the New York average), while per-capita income is $42,884. 14.5% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 3.6%. Median home value sits at $220,600 (42% below the state average), median rent at $1,115 a month, and owner-occupancy at 39.7%.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 28.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.2, and the average commute is 21 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Albany County, so you can benchmark 12189 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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 12189

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Watervliet, NY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 12189.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 12189, Watervliet, 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

17,568

Population

16.5

Area (sq mi)

1,065

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 12189?

41.2

Median Age

45.9%

Male

54.1%

Female

9.6%

Foreign-Born

White 74.5%
African American 9.0%
Asian 6.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.3%
Hispanic or Latino 6.8%

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?

$65,276

Median Household Income

-29% vs state

$42,884

Per Capita Income

14.5%

Poverty Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

20.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 12189 ranks nationally

Watervliet, NY household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$65,276 39th percentile higher than 39% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 57.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

9,708

Total Housing Units

8,731

Occupied Units

977

Vacant Units

2.13

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 39.7%
Renter 60.3%

$220,600

Median Home Value

-42% vs state

$1,115

Median Rent

1955

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

+3.6%

YoY Change (2024)

266

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+166%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 12189 have increased 3.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +166% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.9% 197
2021 +8.3% 214
2022 +13.4% 242
2023 +6.0% 257
2024 +3.6% 266

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 266 business establishments in ZIP 12189, employing approximately 2,880 people with a combined annual payroll of $151,162,000.

266

Businesses

2,880

Employees

$151.2M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 46 17.3%
Construction 34 12.8%
Retail trade 30 11.3%
Other services (except public administration) 29 10.9%
Accommodation and food services 24 9.0%
Health care and social assistance 22 8.3%
Manufacturing 19 7.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 17 6.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 14 5.3%
Wholesale trade 11 4.1%
Transportation and warehousing 8 3.0%
Finance and insurance 4 1.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.5%

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 12189 vs 12183 →

ZIP 12189 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 12189 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 12189 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 12189 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
12183 Troy, NY 2,620 1.5 mi
12047 Cohoes, NY 19,664 3.3 mi
12204 Albany, NY 7,349 3.4 mi
12110 Latham, NY 21,908 3.2 mi
12211 Albany, NY 11,303 3.2 mi
12188 Waterford, NY 10,980 5.9 mi
12144 Rensselaer, NY 20,555 7.4 mi
12207 Albany, NY 1,948 5.6 mi
12210 Albany, NY 10,158 5.6 mi
12206 Albany, NY 16,395 5.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Albany County

12203 standard
Albany, NY
Pop: 29,952
12205 standard
Albany, NY
Pop: 26,977
12110 standard
Latham, NY
Pop: 21,908
12208 standard
Albany, NY
Pop: 20,702
12047 standard
Cohoes, NY
Pop: 19,664
12054 standard
Delmar, NY
Pop: 16,918

Related Areas

Albany County Watervliet, NY New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 12189 in? ▼
ZIP code 12189 (Watervliet) is located in Albany County, New York. Albany County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/albany-ny.
What is the population of ZIP code 12189? ▼
ZIP code 12189 in Watervliet, NY has a population of 17,568 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 12189? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 12189 is $65,276, which is 14% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 12189? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 12189 is $220,600, which is 21% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 12189? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 12189 is White at 74.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 12189? ▼
ZIP code 12189 has 266 business establishments employing approximately 2,880 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 12189? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 12189 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (46), Construction (34), Retail trade (30). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 12189? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 12189 increased by 3.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 166%. 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 12189? ▼
In ZIP code 12189, 57.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.1% 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 12189? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 12189 is 20.6 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 12189? ▼
In ZIP code 12189, approximately 39.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 60.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 12189? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 12189 is 14.5% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.