Schenectady, NY · standard
ZIP Code 12305
Schenectady County, New York - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,716
- 1,457/sq mi High-density area
- $53,326
- Median income Below-median income area
- $217,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 39.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Schenectady pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.
- 19th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 48th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,457
- people per sq mi
- 15%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 12305 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 12305 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Schenectady, Schenectady County, New York, home to 5,716 residents across 3.9 square miles, a density of 1,457 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 12305 reports a modest median household income of $53,326 (42% below the average New York ZIP), while per-capita income is $39,971. The poverty rate is 18.7%, with unemployment at 6.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $217,500 (43% below the average New York ZIP), and median rent is $1,142; owner occupancy is 14.6%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 39.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.3, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Schenectady County, so 12305 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 12305
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Schenectady, NY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 12305.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
75 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
62 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
43 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
38 establishments
- Retail trade 28
Retail trade
28 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 12305, 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
5,716
Population
3.9
Area (sq mi)
1,457
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 12305?
35.3
Median Age
50.5%
Male
49.5%
Female
14.2%
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?
$53,326
Median Household Income
-42% vs state ZIP avg
$39,971
Per Capita Income
18.7%
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Unemployment Rate
18.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 12305 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)
$53,326 8th percentile higher than 8% 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
3,980housing units
3,980
Total Housing Units
3,636
Occupied Units
344
Vacant Units
1.64
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$217,500
Median Home Value
-43% vs state ZIP avg
$1,142
Median Rent
1940
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 369 business establishments in ZIP 12305, employing approximately 6,801 people with a combined annual payroll of $424,528,000.
369
Businesses
6,801
Employees
$424.5M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 75 | 20.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 62 | 16.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 43 | 11.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 38 | 10.3% |
| Retail trade | 28 | 7.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 26 | 7.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 19 | 5.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 16 | 4.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 3.8% |
| Construction | 13 | 3.5% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 2.4% |
| Information | 9 | 2.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 6 | 1.6% |
| Educational services | 6 | 1.6% |
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 12305 vs 12307 →
ZIP 12305 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
- 12302
Schenectady (12302)
27,582 residents
- 12306
Schenectady (12306)
25,636 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
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 12305 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 12305 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
- 12302
Schenectady (12302)
$98,163 median income
- 12303
Schenectady (12303)
$84,375 median income
- 12306
Schenectady (12306)
$83,202 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 12305 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12307 | Schenectady, NY | 7,692 | 1.0 mi |
| 12308 | Schenectady, NY | 15,335 | 1.7 mi |
| 12008 | Alplaus, NY | 497 | 3.5 mi |
| 12306 | Schenectady, NY | 25,636 | 4.0 mi |
| 12303 | Schenectady, NY | 29,857 | 4.5 mi |
| 12304 | Schenectady, NY | 21,482 | 3.8 mi |
| 12309 | Schenectady, NY | 29,343 | 4.2 mi |
| 12302 | Schenectady, NY | 27,582 | 5.1 mi |
| 12085 | Guilderland Center, NY | 479 | 7.5 mi |
| 12148 | Rexford, NY | 4,569 | 5.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 12305, 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 (5,716 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 12305 in?
ZIP code 12305 (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 12305?
ZIP code 12305 in Schenectady, NY has a population of 5,716 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 12305?
The median household income in ZIP 12305 is $53,326, which is 30% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 12305?
The median home value in ZIP 12305 is $217,500, which is 22% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 12305?
The largest racial group in ZIP 12305 is White at 60.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 12305?
ZIP code 12305 has 369 business establishments employing approximately 6,801 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 12305?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 12305 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (75), Accommodation and food services (62), Health care and social assistance (43). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 12305?
In ZIP code 12305, 62.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 39.5% 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 12305?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 12305 is 18.8 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 12305?
In ZIP code 12305, approximately 14.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 85.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 12305?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 12305 is 18.7% 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 12305's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 12305 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.