ZIP Code 12205
standardSource:
Albany · Albany County · New York
- Population
- 26,977
- Median income
- $91,020
- Median home value
- $276,600
- Bachelor's or higher
- 38.0%
- Land area
- 41.0 sq mi
658/sq mi
▲ 19% vs US
higher than 74% of US ZIPs
▼ 1% vs US
higher than 63% of US ZIPs
Median age 43.6
New York
ZIP code 12205 in Albany, New York has a population of 26,977. The median household income is $91,020, which is 19% above the national average. Median home value is $276,600, 1% below the US average. 38.0% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 12205 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 41.0 square miles in Albany, Albany County, New York. The area is home to 26,977 residents, producing a population density of 658 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 12205 against New York and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 12205 sits at $91,020 (2% below the New York average), while per-capita income is $46,560. The poverty rate stands at 7.2% and the unemployment rate at 2.4%. On housing, the median home value is $276,600 (27% below the state average) with median rent at $1,446 per month, and 71.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 12205 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 38.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.6, and the average commute is 18 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Albany County, so you can benchmark 12205 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 12205
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 12205.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
287 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
193 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
177 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
158 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
150 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 12205, Albany, NY · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
26,977
Population
41.0
Area (sq mi)
658
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 12205?
43.6
Median Age
47.6%
Male
52.4%
Female
13.7%
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?
$91,020
Median Household Income
-2% vs state
$46,560
Per Capita Income
7.2%
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Unemployment Rate
18.3 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
12,116
Total Housing Units
11,574
Occupied Units
542
Vacant Units
2.22
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$276,600
Median Home Value
-27% vs state
$1,446
Median Rent
1966
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
+6.6%
YoY Change (2024)
285
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+185%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 12205 have increased 6.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +185% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.8% | 203 |
| 2021 | +7.3% | 217 |
| 2022 | +12.7% | 245 |
| 2023 | +9.3% | 268 |
| 2024 | +6.6% | 285 |
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 1,735 business establishments in ZIP 12205, employing approximately 34,199 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,840,329,000.
1,735
Businesses
34,199
Employees
$1.8B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 287 | 16.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 193 | 11.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 177 | 10.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 158 | 9.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 150 | 8.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 142 | 8.2% |
| Construction | 127 | 7.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 127 | 7.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 126 | 7.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 64 | 3.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 47 | 2.7% |
| Manufacturing | 44 | 2.5% |
| Information | 31 | 1.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 26 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 25 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 11 | 0.6% |
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 12205 vs 12222 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12222 | Albany, NY | 6,489 | 2.3 mi |
| 12203 | Albany, NY | 29,952 | 2.8 mi |
| 12211 | Albany, NY | 11,303 | 3.4 mi |
| 12208 | Albany, NY | 20,702 | 4.6 mi |
| 12084 | Guilderland, NY | 4,271 | 3.8 mi |
| 12110 | Latham, NY | 21,908 | 3.6 mi |
| 12206 | Albany, NY | 16,395 | 3.9 mi |
| 12209 | Albany, NY | 10,121 | 5.9 mi |
| 12309 | Schenectady, NY | 29,343 | 5.9 mi |
| 12304 | Schenectady, NY | 21,482 | 5.1 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Albany County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 12205 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 12205? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 12205? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 12205? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 12205? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 12205? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 12205? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 12205? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 12205? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 12205? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 12205? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 12205? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Albany, NY
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.