Albany, NY · standard
ZIP Code 12206
Albany County, New York - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 16,395
- 2,979/sq mi High-density area
- $41,548
- Median income Below-median income area
- $162,300
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 30.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Albany pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- 7th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 31st pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 2,979
- people per sq mi
- 27%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 12206 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 12206 (Albany, NY) rose +30.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 214.8 in 2023 to 280.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 12206 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Albany, Albany County, New York, home to 16,395 residents across 5.5 square miles, a density of 2,979 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 12206 reports a modest median household income of $41,548 (55% below the average New York ZIP), while per-capita income is $26,641. Economic pressure is pronounced: 34.6% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 11.5%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $162,300 (57% below the average New York ZIP), and median rent is $1,210; owner occupancy is 26.6%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32, and the average commute is 20 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Albany County, so 12206 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 12206
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Albany, NY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 12206.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
94 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
84 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
78 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
61 establishments
- Construction
Construction
47 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 12206, Albany, 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
16,395
Population
5.5
Area (sq mi)
2,979
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 12206?
32.0
Median Age
53.2%
Male
46.8%
Female
23.2%
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?
$41,548
Median Household Income
-55% vs state ZIP avg
$26,641
Per Capita Income
34.6%
Poverty Rate
11.5%
Unemployment Rate
20.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 12206 ranks among New York ZIPs
Albany, 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)
$41,548 3rd percentile higher than 3% 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
8,382housing units
8,382
Total Housing Units
6,522
Occupied Units
1,860
Vacant Units
2.19
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$162,300
Median Home Value
-57% vs state ZIP avg
$1,210
Median Rent
1949
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
+30.6%
YoY Change (2024)
281
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+181%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 12206 have increased 30.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +181% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.7% | 177 |
| 2021 | +13.3% | 200 |
| 2022 | +22.9% | 246 |
| 2023 | -12.7% | 215 |
| 2024 | +30.6% | 281 |
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 509 business establishments in ZIP 12206, employing approximately 8,259 people with a combined annual payroll of $485,454,000.
509
Businesses
8,259
Employees
$485.5M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 94 | 18.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 84 | 16.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 78 | 15.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 61 | 12.0% |
| Construction | 47 | 9.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 30 | 5.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 24 | 4.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 23 | 4.5% |
| Information | 13 | 2.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 2.4% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 9 | 1.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 1.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 | 1.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 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 12206 vs 12210 →
ZIP 12206 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 12203
Albany (12203)
29,952 residents
- 12208
Albany (12208)
20,702 residents
- 12206
Albany (12206)
16,395 residents
- 12211 11,303
Albany (12211)
11,303 residents
- 12210 10,158
Albany (12210)
10,158 residents
- 12209 10,121
Albany (12209)
10,121 residents
- 12202 9,628
Albany (12202)
9,628 residents
- 12204 7,349
Albany (12204)
7,349 residents
- 12222 6,489
Albany (12222)
6,489 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 12206 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 12206 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 12211
Albany (12211)
$156,605 median income
- 12077
Glenmont (12077)
$118,257 median income
- 12209
Albany (12209)
$89,390 median income
- 12203
Albany (12203)
$83,147 median income
- 12204
Albany (12204)
$74,841 median income
- 12208
Albany (12208)
$70,413 median income
- 12207 $58,998
Albany (12207)
$58,998 median income
- 12210 $55,843
Albany (12210)
$55,843 median income
- 12202 $52,868
Albany (12202)
$52,868 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 12206 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12210 | Albany, NY | 10,158 | 1.6 mi |
| 12209 | Albany, NY | 10,121 | 2.5 mi |
| 12208 | Albany, NY | 20,702 | 2.0 mi |
| 12211 | Albany, NY | 11,303 | 2.4 mi |
| 12222 | Albany, NY | 6,489 | 2.3 mi |
| 12207 | Albany, NY | 1,948 | 2.2 mi |
| 12202 | Albany, NY | 9,628 | 3.0 mi |
| 12204 | Albany, NY | 7,349 | 2.9 mi |
| 12203 | Albany, NY | 29,952 | 3.4 mi |
| 12077 | Glenmont, NY | 6,246 | 5.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 12206, 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 (16,395 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Albany County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 12206 in?
ZIP code 12206 (Albany) 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 12206?
ZIP code 12206 in Albany, NY has a population of 16,395 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 12206?
The median household income in ZIP 12206 is $41,548, which is 46% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 12206?
The median home value in ZIP 12206 is $162,300, which is 42% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 12206?
The largest racial group in ZIP 12206 is African American at 38.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 12206?
ZIP code 12206 has 509 business establishments employing approximately 8,259 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 12206?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 12206 are: Retail trade (94), Other services (except public administration) (84), Health care and social assistance (78). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 12206?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 12206 increased by 30.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 181%. 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 12206?
In ZIP code 12206, 62.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.7% 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 12206?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 12206 is 20.2 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 12206?
In ZIP code 12206, approximately 26.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 73.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 12206?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 12206 is 34.6% 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 12206's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 12206 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Albany, NY ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.