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 Moderate-density area
- $65,985
- Median income Near-median income area
- $225,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 45.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 12983 (Saranac Lake, NY) rose +5.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 305.0 in 2023 to 320.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average New York ZIP), while per-capita income is $44,357. The poverty rate is 14.4%, with unemployment at 2.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $225,200 (40% below the average New York ZIP), and median rent is $872; owner occupancy is 57.3%.
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. The page also surfaces 3 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Franklin County, so 12983 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 12983
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Saranac Lake, NY
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 12983.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
49 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
45 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
35 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
26 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
22 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 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
Who lives in ZIP 12983?
44.6
Median Age
53.6%
Male
46.4%
Female
2.3%
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?
$65,985
Median Household Income
-29% vs state ZIP avg
$44,357
Per Capita Income
14.4%
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Unemployment Rate
15.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 12983 ranks among New York ZIPs
Saranac Lake, 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)
$65,985 26th percentile higher than 26% 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
4,726housing units
4,726
Total Housing Units
3,641
Occupied Units
1,085
Vacant Units
1.92
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$225,200
Median Home Value
-40% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 12983
Saranac Lake (12983)
7,494 residents
- 12977 1,753
Ray Brook (12977)
1,753 residents
- 12945 638
Lake Clear (12945)
638 residents
- 12939 205
Gabriels (12939)
205 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 12983 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 12983 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 12945
Lake Clear (12945)
$80,227 median income
- 12983
Saranac Lake (12983)
$65,985 median income
- 12939
Gabriels (12939)
$51,635 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 12983, 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 (7,494 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Franklin County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 12983's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 12983 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Saranac Lake, 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.