Residential delivery area · New York
ZIP Code 12196: West Sand Lake, NY
ZIP code 12196 uses the postal name West Sand Lake, New York and lies entirely in Rensselaer County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 3,900 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $110,889 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 43% of its land lies in West Sand Lake (a census-designated place); 57% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- West Sand Lake · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Rensselaer County
- Census places
- West Sand Lake census-designated place
- Metro area
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
- House district
- NY-19 119th Congress
- State
- New York
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 9.0 sq mi · 433 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 12196?
12196 centers on 42.632°, -73.614° and covers 9.0 square miles of land plus 0.2 of water. It borders 4 ZIP codes: 12198, 12061, 12018, 12144.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 12196, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 12196 compare with the rest of Rensselaer County?
| Measure | 12196 | In Rensselaer County | In NY |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 3,880 | 12th of 30 | 810th of 1,826 |
| Median household income | $111k | 5th of 19 | 290th of 1,081 |
| Median home value | $317k | 5th of 23 | 547th of 1,172 |
Its median household income is higher than in 87% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 71% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 12196?
The 2020 Census counted 2,930 people in 12196; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 3,880. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 3.3% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 3,880±657 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 2,930−3.3% since 2010 (3,031)
- Households
- 1,452
- Median age
- 46.6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 12196?
Of the 3,880 people the ACS estimates in 12196, 24.0% are under 18 and 21.4% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (95.5%).
- Under 1824.0%
- 18 to 6454.6%
- 65 and older21.4%
- White, not Hispanic95.5%
- Hispanic or Latino3.2%
- Other or two or more0.7%
- Asian, not Hispanic0.5%
- Black, not Hispanic0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 12196 earn?
Median household income is $110,889 (ACS 2020-2024), the 5th highest of the 19 ranked ZIP codes in Rensselaer County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($116,277 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $110,889±$23,073
- Income per person
- $51,864
- Below the poverty line
- 5.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 4.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 32.8%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $101,4451,480 returns; wages 68% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 12196?
FHFA's house price index for 12196, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 78% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 57% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +0.4% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $317,300
- Median gross rent
- $1,000
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 84.6%
- Housing units
- 1,452
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 12196?
53 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 8 fewer than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade10
- Accommodation and food services9
- Construction7
- Health care and social assistance5
- Other services (except public administration)5
- Professional, scientific, and technical services4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 12196?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12198 | Wynantskill | 6,796 | $113k | 3.0 mi |
| 12061 | East Greenbush | 9,854 | $111k | 3.1 mi |
| 12018 | Averill Park | 7,422 | $127k | 4.7 mi |
| 12144 | Rensselaer | 22,111 | $91k | 5.3 mi |
| 12140 | Poestenkill | 1,512 | $138k | 4.1 mi (near) |
| 12063 | East Schodack | 665 | $91k | 4.6 mi (near) |
| 12207 | Albany | 1,988 | $59k | 7.0 mi (near) |
| 12153 | Sand Lake | 669 | $90k | 7.2 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.