12196 ZIP Code — West Sand Lake, NY

Rensselaer County, New York

ZIP code 12196 is located in West Sand Lake, New York, within Rensselaer County. It covers approximately 8.95 square miles and serves a population of 3,954 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 518.

About ZIP code 12196

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $281,000. Owner-occupancy is high at 88%, well above the national average.

Median household income is $110,000. The poverty rate of 5% is below the national average. 38% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 22 minutes is near the national average.

Educational attainment is near the national average, with 38% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher.

Overall, ZIP code 12196 reflects a community defined by high homeownership and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

3,954

population

8.95

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

12196 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 12196

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 12196. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
West Sand Lake	Acceptable
West Sand Lake	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

12061 East Greenbush (2.2 mi) 12198 Wynantskill (3.6 mi) 12144 Rensselaer (4.3 mi) 12140 Poestenkill (4.7 mi) 12018 Averill Park (4.9 mi) 12063 East Schodack (5.4 mi) 12204 Albany (6.5 mi) 12207 Albany (6.8 mi) 12247 Albany (7 mi) 12227 Albany (7 mi) 12222 Albany (7 mi) 12214 Albany (7 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	3,954
Population density	442 / sq mi
State FIPS	36
County FIPS	083

Geography
Land area	8.95 sq mi
Water area	0.22 sq mi
Latitude	42.6312
Longitude	-73.6221
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	518

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	10.9%	35.2%	37.0%
$50k – $100k	31.9%	31.4%	27.0%
$100k – $200k	50.3%	27.6%	24.4%
Over $200k	7.0%	5.8%	11.5%

Demographics & statistics

3,954

Population

442

People per sq mi

42.0

Median age

$110,000

Median household income

$44,750

Per capita income

$281,000

Median home value

$1,041

Median monthly rent

88.4%

Home ownership

4.8%

Poverty rate

3.7%

Unemployment

1,171

Housing units

38.3%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

230

5–9

267

137

10–14

159

157

15–19

182

20–24

109

126

25–34

146

201

35–44

234

306

45–54

356

55–59

60–64

289

65–74

336

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	1,237	31.3%
18 and over	2,717	68.7%
65 and over	803	20.3%
Median age	42.0 years

Race & ethnicity

White 91.7%

Hispanic or Latino 4.1%

Two or more races 3.9%

Other race 0.2%

Black or African American 0.1%

Group	Count	%
White	3,779	91.7%
Hispanic or Latino	169	4.1%
Two or more races	160	3.9%
Other race	9	0.2%
Black or African American	6	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	10.9%	35.2%	37.0%
$50k – $100k	31.9%	31.4%	27.0%
$100k – $200k	50.3%	27.6%	24.4%
Over $200k	7.0%	5.8%	11.5%

Under $10k 1.5%

$10k–$15k 1.0%

$15k–$25k 5.1%

$25k–$35k 1.9%

$35k–$50k 6.3%

$50k–$75k 8.9%

$75k–$100k 12.5%

$100k–$150k 33.7%

$150k–$200k 17.2%

$200k+ 11.8%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	1.5%
$10k–$15k	1.0%
$15k–$25k	5.1%
$25k–$35k	1.9%
$35k–$50k	6.3%
$50k–$75k	8.9%
$75k–$100k	12.5%
$100k–$150k	33.7%
$150k–$200k	17.2%
$200k+	11.8%
Median income	$110,000

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 0.6%

$50k–$100k 6.0%

$100k–$150k 2.6%

$150k–$200k 11.3%

$200k–$300k 31.8%

$300k–$500k 33.6%

$500k–$1M 14.1%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$281,000
Median rent / month	$1,041
Owner occupied	88.4%
Renter occupied	11.6%
Vacant	1.0%
Single-family detached	90.8%
Large apartment buildings	0.3%
Mobile homes	1.1%
Median rooms	7.0
Avg household size (owned)	3.11

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	1.6%
2010–2019	1.4%
2000–2009	21.6%
1990–1999	15.3%
1980–1989	9.8%
1970–1979	11.5%
1960–1969	5.1%
1950–1959	7.0%
1940–1949	3.2%
1939 or earlier	23.6%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.0%
1 bedroom	10.0%
2 bedrooms	12.5%
3 bedrooms	47.5%
4 bedrooms	21.6%
5+ bedrooms	8.4%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	1.5%
1 vehicle	22.4%
2 vehicles	51.7%
3 or more	24.4%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	26.4%
Electricity	1.8%
Propane / LP gas	18.6%
Fuel oil	44.6%
Wood	7.9%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	855	65.3%
Cohabiting couple	69	5.3%
Male householder, no spouse	115	8.8%
Female householder, no spouse	271	20.7%
Households with children under 18	489	37.3%
Households with seniors (65+)	485	37.0%
Average household size	3.00

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	32.8%	17.3%
Married	62.3%	55.2%
Separated	0.0%	0.0%
Widowed	2.4%	7.6%
Divorced	2.5%	19.8%

Education

Less than 9th grade 2.5%

Some HS, no diploma 2.8%

HS graduate 26.9%

Some college, no degree 10.6%

Associate's degree 18.9%

Bachelor's degree 25.6%

Graduate / professional 12.7%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	94.7%
Bachelor's or higher	38.3%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	82	6.8%
Kindergarten	31	2.6%
Elementary school	636	52.6%
High school	304	25.1%
College / grad school	156	12.9%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 20.3%

Professional & management 14.4%

Retail trade 14.1%

Manufacturing 11.4%

Transportation & utilities 11.4%

Public administration 10.1%

Finance & real estate 10.0%

Construction 3.3%

Arts, food & hospitality 2.3%

Other services 1.4%

Wholesale trade 0.7%

Information 0.5%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	53.2%
Service	7.8%
Sales & office	23.4%
Natural resources & construction	3.9%
Production & transportation	11.6%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	71.7%
Government	23.7%
Self-employed	4.4%
Unpaid family workers	0.2%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	78.2%
Carpool	1.3%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	0.0%
Work from home	12.6%
Other means	7.9%
Avg commute (minutes)	21.6

Poverty

All people 4.8%

Under 18 years 6.5%

18 and over 4.0%

Married-couple families 2.5%

Female-led households 11.4%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	37.7%
Retirement income	29.1%
Supplemental Security	0.0%
Cash public assistance	3.0%
Food stamps / SNAP	2.4%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	25.7%
High blood pressure	28.9%
High cholesterol	31.7%
Diabetes	8.0%
Heart disease	5.6%
Stroke	2.4%
Asthma	9.9%
Arthritis	23.0%
Kidney disease	2.5%
Pulmonary disease	5.9%
Cancer	7.0%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	15.1%
Binge drinking	20.2%
No physical activity	19.9%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	33.5%
Depression	21.4%
Fair or poor health	9.8%
Poor mental health	13.3%
Poor physical health	8.5%
No health insurance	8.3%
Visited doctor (checkup)	79.5%
Visited dentist	70.4%
Cholesterol screening	92.6%
Teeth loss	10.5%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	297	10.9%

Disability	%
Any disability	11.3%
Under 18	0.0%
18–64 years	11.5%
65 and over	28.1%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	87.2%
Public insurance	34.4%
No insurance	0.0%
Uninsured under 19	0.0%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	3,792	95.9%
Spanish	18	0.5%
Other Indo-European	6	0.2%
Asian & Pacific Islander	12	0.3%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	3,923	99.2%
Born in same state	3,906	98.8%
Born in different state	3,475	87.9%
Foreign born	17	0.4%
Naturalized citizen	31	0.8%
Not a US citizen	31	100.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	840	21.2%
French	280	7.1%
German	133	3.4%

Ancestry	Count	%
English	95	2.4%
Arab	62	1.6%
Dutch	42	1.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	33.1%
Internet access	100.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 12196

What city is ZIP code 12196 in?

ZIP code 12196 is primarily assigned to West Sand Lake, New York.

What county is ZIP code 12196 in?

ZIP code 12196 falls within Rensselaer County, New York.

Is ZIP code 12196 family-oriented?

31% of residents in ZIP code 12196 are under 18, reflecting a younger, family-oriented community.

Is ZIP code 12196 mostly owner-occupied?

88% of occupied units in ZIP code 12196 are owner-occupied, well above the national average.

Does ZIP code 12196 have a large retiree population?

38% of households in ZIP code 12196 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

Does ZIP code 12196 have a large veteran population?

11% of civilians in ZIP code 12196 are veterans, above the national average of ~7%.

What timezone is ZIP code 12196 in?

ZIP code 12196 observes the EST timezone.