Population 8,307 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 12159
Household size in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.55 | 2.44 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.45 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.45 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.33 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.19 | −0.11 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
ZIP 12159 is a place of small households, averaging 2.36 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.55 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.7 | 39.8 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.7 | 40.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.1 | 41.3 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.1 | 41.7 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +1.9 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.1, ZIP 12159 is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 44.7 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the north and oldest in the east.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 10.5% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 10.0% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 10.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 9.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.4% of households in ZIP 12159, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 55 of the 723 New York ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 12159
Renters in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.6% | 33.8% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.2% | 34.8% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.5% | 36.1% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 35.8% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | +2.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in ZIP 12159 rent their homes (33.8%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 52.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.8 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 10.9% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 11.7% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 13.3% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 9.3% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in ZIP 12159: just 4.9% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 0.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. ZIP 12159 has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five New York ZIP codes.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1962 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1964 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1966 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1981 | 1969 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in ZIP 12159 are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1981, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the Albany area overall, where the median home dates to 1969. The median year built has moved up from 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the south has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,022 | $882 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,101 | $975 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,297 | $1,114 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,625 | $1,360 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$603 | +$478 | +$698 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 12159 runs $1,625 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in the Albany area overall ($1,360). Rent has climbed $603 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 12159
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.6% | 32.9% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 59.2% | 34.4% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.7% | 37.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 63.3% | 42.2% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +9.4 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in ZIP 12159: 63.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.7 points, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.2% | 90.4% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.9% | 91.8% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.0% | 91.8% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.2% | 93.0% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +2.6 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in ZIP 12159: 97.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged up 1.0 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only 57 of the 723 New York ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 12159
| Period | ZIP 12159 | Albany area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.9% | 6.2% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.7% | 7.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.8% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 5.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in ZIP 12159 has been strong: just 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 12159 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 12159 | 2.36 | 47.1 | 4.4% | 33.8% | 4.9% | 1981 | $1,625 | 63.3% | 97.2% | 3.4% |
| ZIP 12054 | 2.44 | 44.4 | 7.9% | 24.8% | 3.8% | 1968 | $1,671 | 71.3% | 98.0% | 2.6% |
| ZIP 12203 | 2.00 | 38.2 | 7.3% | 49.1% | 10.0% | 1967 | $1,518 | 56.6% | 95.2% | 4.8% |
| ZIP 12222 | 1.37 | 20.2 | 7.1% | 51.7% | 10.4% | 2003 | $2,246 | 85.6% | 99.4% | 15.4% |
| ZIP 12084 | 2.18 | 40.7 | 9.0% | 66.9% | 5.7% | 1980 | $1,535 | 60.2% | 97.3% | 4.4% |
| ZIP 12186 | 2.56 | 42.2 | 6.2% | 16.8% | 4.6% | 1973 | $1,346 | 54.5% | 97.4% | 4.0% |
| ZIP 12208 | 2.16 | 36.8 | 5.1% | 53.8% | 9.6% | 1951 | $1,358 | 54.2% | 93.5% | 6.8% |
| ZIP 12209 | 2.55 | 32.8 | 11.7% | 36.0% | 8.8% | 1942 | $1,347 | 44.1% | 91.3% | 3.7% |
| ZIP 12206 | 2.28 | 34.5 | 12.8% | 73.2% | 20.2% | 1956 | $1,143 | 32.5% | 89.4% | 11.3% |
| ZIP 12205 | 2.33 | 43.7 | 8.7% | 28.1% | 5.6% | 1967 | $1,402 | 36.6% | 92.7% | 2.8% |
| ZIP 12077 | 2.46 | 45.4 | 5.3% | 21.7% | 6.3% | 1986 | $1,631 | 66.9% | 95.8% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 08884, NJ · 18848, PA · 35096, AL · 32448, FL · 79830, TX · 13035, NY · 42064, KY · 12009, NY · 89447, NV · 90211, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 12159. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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