PlainZIP

Saranac Lake, NY · standard

ZIP Code 12983

Franklin County, New York - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

7,494
14/sq mi
$65,985
Median income
$225,200
Median home value
45.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Saranac Lake pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.

40th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 49%
home value, US ZIPs
14
people per sq mi
57%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 12983 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 12983 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Saranac Lake, Franklin County, New York, home to 7,494 residents across 547.0 square miles, a density of 14 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 12983 reports a modest median household income of $65,985 (29% below the New York average), while per-capita income is $44,357. 14.4% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 2.9%. The typical home here is valued at $225,200 (40% below the state average); renters pay a median of $872 monthly, and 57.3% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 45.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.6, and the average commute is 15 minutes. To put 12983 in local context, 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Franklin County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 12983

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Saranac Lake, NY

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 12983.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 12983, Saranac Lake, 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

7,494

Population

547.0

Area (sq mi)

14

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 12983?

44.6

Median Age

53.6%

Male

46.4%

Female

2.3%

Foreign-Born

White 92.8%
African American 0.6%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.4%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.9%
Hispanic or Latino 2.8%

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?

$65,985

Median Household Income

-29% vs state

$44,357

Per Capita Income

14.4%

Poverty Rate

2.9%

Unemployment Rate

15.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 12983 ranks nationally

Saranac Lake, NY household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$65,985 40th percentile higher than 40% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 62.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 45.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

4,726

Total Housing Units

3,641

Occupied Units

1,085

Vacant Units

1.92

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 57.3%
Renter 42.7%

$225,200

Median Home Value

-40% vs state

$872

Median Rent

1947

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

+5.0%

YoY Change (2024)

320

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+220%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 12983 have increased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +220% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.0% 214
2021 +2.9% 220
2022 +13.5% 250
2023 +21.9% 305
2024 +5.0% 320

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 274 business establishments in ZIP 12983, employing approximately 2,688 people with a combined annual payroll of $166,933,000.

274

Businesses

2,688

Employees

$166.9M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 49 17.9%
Health care and social assistance 45 16.4%
Accommodation and food services 35 12.8%
Other services (except public administration) 26 9.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 22 8.0%
Construction 21 7.7%
Finance and insurance 15 5.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 14 5.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 13 4.7%
Information 8 2.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7 2.5%
Manufacturing 6 2.2%
Educational services 4 1.5%
Wholesale trade 3 1.1%

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 12983 vs 12945 →

ZIP 12983 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 12983 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 12983 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 12983 ranks #2 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
12945 Lake Clear, NY 638 2.1 mi
12939 Gabriels, NY 205 7.6 mi
12977 Ray Brook, NY 1,753 6.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Franklin County

12953 standard
Malone, NY
Pop: 15,836
12986 standard
Tupper Lake, NY
Pop: 6,120
13655 standard
Hogansburg, NY
Pop: 3,512
12966 standard
North Bangor, NY
Pop: 2,915
12920 standard
Chateaugay, NY
Pop: 2,842
12926 standard
Constable, NY
Pop: 2,208

Related Areas

Franklin County Saranac Lake, NY New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 12983 in? ▼
ZIP code 12983 (Saranac Lake) is located in Franklin County, New York. Franklin County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/franklin-ny.
What is the population of ZIP code 12983? ▼
ZIP code 12983 in Saranac Lake, NY has a population of 7,494 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 12983? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 12983 is $65,985, which is 14% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 12983? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 12983 is $225,200, which is 19% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 12983? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 12983 is White at 92.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 12983? ▼
ZIP code 12983 has 274 business establishments employing approximately 2,688 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 12983? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 12983 are: Retail trade (49), Health care and social assistance (45), Accommodation and food services (35). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 12983? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 12983 increased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 220%. 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 12983? ▼
In ZIP code 12983, 62.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.9% 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 12983? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 12983 is 15.3 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 12983? ▼
In ZIP code 12983, approximately 57.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 42.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 12983? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 12983 is 14.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.