ZIP Code · NY

ZIP 12189

Part of Watervliet, NY

Pop. 18,656·Albany County·276th most expensive ZIP in New York

Median rent (all units)

$1,519/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.7%

vs US Median

-$413

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 12189 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 12189 · $1,519

More affordable than 72% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,070

1 BR

$1,250

2 BR

$1,500

3 BR

$1,800

4 BR+

$1,990

Research median

$1,500/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of New York

Rent in ZIP 12189 changed +7.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 251 New York ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($65,276) is $1,632 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,500); a 3-bedroom is $1,800.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 12189. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,228/yr

At $1,519/mo median

Location

CityWatervliet

StateNY

CountyAlbany County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.4% YoY, +1.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 12189 (Watervliet, NY) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 28.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,656

Median income

$65,276

Median age

41.2

Renters

60.3%

Age distribution

21%

20.8%

26.4%

12.7%

19.1%

Under 1821%

18–3420.8%

35–5426.4%

55–6412.7%

65+19.1%

Gender

45.9%

54.1%

Male45.9%

Female54.1%

Race & ethnicity

74.5%

White74.5%

Black9%

Hispanic6.8%

Asian6.3%

Other3.4%

Education (25+)

29.7%

33.5%

28.1%

No HS diploma8.6%

HS diploma29.7%

Some college33.5%

Bachelor's+28.1%

Housing tenure

39.7%

60.3%

Owner39.7%

Renter60.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 12189 in Watervliet, NY has changed in 5 years

Income

$53,443 → $65,276

up 22.1%

Population

18,277 → 18,656

up 2.1%

Renter share

60.9% → 60.3%

-0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

28.1% → 28.1%

+0.0 pts

Median age

37.6 → 41.2

+3.6 yrs

Median household income rose from $53,443 to $65,276 between 2021 and 2024, a 22.1% shift. The population has grown by 2.1% since 2021, moving from about 18,277 residents to roughly 18,656.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 12189

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 12189

About renting in ZIP 12189

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 12189 covers Watervliet, NY. The median rent here is $1,519/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,250/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,500/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($65,276/yr), ZIP 12189 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 12189?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (about $29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,519/mo in ZIP 12189. The local median household income is $65,276/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 12189?

Rent in ZIP 12189 has risen 7.4% over the past year.

How does ZIP 12189 compare to other ZIPs in New York?

ZIP 12189 is one of the more affordable among New York ZIP codes for rent, ranking #276 of 334 at $1,519/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 12189 changed +7.4%, against a typical +5.6% across the 251 New York ZIP codes Zillow tracks.