Schenectady, NY · standard
ZIP Code 12304
Schenectady County, New York - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,482
- 1,217/sq mi High-density area
- $69,235
- Median income Near-median income area
- $179,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 25.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Schenectady pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 45th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 38th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,217
- people per sq mi
- 60%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 12304 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 12304 (Schenectady, NY) rose +2.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 282.5 in 2023 to 290.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 12304 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Schenectady, Schenectady County, New York, with 21,482 residents across 17.7 square miles, a density of 1,217 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 12304 reports a modest median household income of $69,235 (25% below the average New York ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,797. The poverty rate is 22.1%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $179,200 (53% below the average New York ZIP), and median rent is $1,100; owner occupancy is 59.6%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 25.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Schenectady County, so 12304 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 12304
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Schenectady, NY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 12304.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
103 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
51 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
50 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
42 establishments
- Construction 36
Construction
36 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 12304, Schenectady, 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
21,482
Population
17.7
Area (sq mi)
1,217
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 12304?
41.0
Median Age
48.3%
Male
51.7%
Female
16.9%
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?
$69,235
Median Household Income
-25% vs state ZIP avg
$36,797
Per Capita Income
22.1%
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Unemployment Rate
22.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 12304 ranks among New York ZIPs
Schenectady, 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)
$69,235 31st percentile higher than 31% 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
9,495housing units
9,495
Total Housing Units
9,306
Occupied Units
189
Vacant Units
2.36
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$179,200
Median Home Value
-53% vs state ZIP avg
$1,100
Median Rent
1956
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
+2.6%
YoY Change (2024)
290
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+190%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 12304 have increased 2.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +190% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.5% | 195 |
| 2021 | +10.6% | 215 |
| 2022 | +14.1% | 246 |
| 2023 | +15.0% | 283 |
| 2024 | +2.6% | 290 |
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 406 business establishments in ZIP 12304, employing approximately 5,491 people with a combined annual payroll of $239,994,000.
406
Businesses
5,491
Employees
$240.0M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 103 | 25.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 51 | 12.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 50 | 12.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 42 | 10.3% |
| Construction | 36 | 8.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 19 | 4.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 17 | 4.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 16 | 3.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 15 | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing | 11 | 2.7% |
| Information | 11 | 2.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 2.5% |
| Educational services | 10 | 2.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 1.7% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 1.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 1.0% |
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 12304 vs 12303 →
ZIP 12304 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 12303
Schenectady (12303)
29,857 residents
- 12309
Schenectady (12309)
29,343 residents
- 12205
Albany (12205)
26,977 residents
- 12304
Schenectady (12304)
21,482 residents
- 12308
Schenectady (12308)
15,335 residents
- 12307 7,692
Schenectady (12307)
7,692 residents
- 12305 5,716
Schenectady (12305)
5,716 residents
- 12148 4,569
Rexford (12148)
4,569 residents
- 12084 4,271
Guilderland (12084)
4,271 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 12304 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 12304 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 12148
Rexford (12148)
$141,984 median income
- 12008
Alplaus (12008)
$125,859 median income
- 12309
Schenectady (12309)
$125,274 median income
- 12084
Guilderland (12084)
$91,063 median income
- 12205
Albany (12205)
$91,020 median income
- 12303
Schenectady (12303)
$84,375 median income
- 12304
Schenectady (12304)
$69,235 median income
- 12308
Schenectady (12308)
$63,434 median income
- 12305 $53,326
Schenectady (12305)
$53,326 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 12304 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12303 | Schenectady, NY | 29,857 | 2.2 mi |
| 12309 | Schenectady, NY | 29,343 | 2.2 mi |
| 12307 | Schenectady, NY | 7,692 | 2.8 mi |
| 12308 | Schenectady, NY | 15,335 | 3.5 mi |
| 12084 | Guilderland, NY | 4,271 | 4.8 mi |
| 12008 | Alplaus, NY | 497 | 5.5 mi |
| 12305 | Schenectady, NY | 5,716 | 3.8 mi |
| 12148 | Rexford, NY | 4,569 | 4.9 mi |
| 12205 | Albany, NY | 26,977 | 5.1 mi |
| 12085 | Guilderland Center, NY | 479 | 5.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 12304, 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 (21,482 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Schenectady County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 12304 in?
ZIP code 12304 (Schenectady) is located in Schenectady County, New York. Schenectady County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/schenectady-ny.
What is the population of ZIP code 12304?
ZIP code 12304 in Schenectady, NY has a population of 21,482 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 12304?
The median household income in ZIP 12304 is $69,235, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 12304?
The median home value in ZIP 12304 is $179,200, which is 36% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 12304?
The largest racial group in ZIP 12304 is White at 47.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 12304?
ZIP code 12304 has 406 business establishments employing approximately 5,491 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 12304?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 12304 are: Retail trade (103), Other services (except public administration) (51), Accommodation and food services (50). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 12304?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 12304 increased by 2.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 190%. 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 12304?
In ZIP code 12304, 57.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.6% 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 12304?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 12304 is 22.8 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 12304?
In ZIP code 12304, approximately 59.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 40.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 12304?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 12304 is 22.1% 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 12304's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 12304 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Schenectady, 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.