ZIP Code · NY

ZIP 12208

Part of Albany, NY

Pop. 23,289·Albany County·265th most expensive ZIP in New York

Median rent (all units)

$1,615/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.6%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

-$317

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 12208 · $1,615

More affordable than 64% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,230

1 BR

$1,430

2 BR

$1,720

3 BR

$2,060

4 BR+

$2,280

Research median

$1,720/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

November. Asking rents in ZIP 12208 usually run 0.9% below trend in November and 1.1% above it in May, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 12208 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of New York

Rent in ZIP 12208 changed +6.6% 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 3 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($70,413) is $1,760 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,720); a 3-bedroom is $2,060.

Rank in Albany

3rd cheapest of 8 ZIP codes in Albany.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 12303, 8 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,371/mo), about $2,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 12208. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,380/yr

At $1,615/mo median

Location

CityAlbany

StateNY

CountyAlbany County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.6% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 12208 (Albany, NY) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 54.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

23,289

Median income

$70,413

Median age

33.1

Renters

54.9%

Age distribution

12.8%

39.4%

20.9%

17.5%

Under 1812.8%

18–3439.4%

35–5420.9%

55–649.4%

65+17.5%

Gender

46.2%

53.8%

Male46.2%

Female53.8%

Race & ethnicity

64.8%

12.8%

White64.8%

Black12.8%

Hispanic9.1%

Asian11.4%

Other1.9%

Education (25+)

14.8%

23.8%

54.7%

No HS diploma6.7%

HS diploma14.8%

Some college23.8%

Bachelor's+54.7%

Housing tenure

45.1%

54.9%

Owner45.1%

Renter54.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 12208 in Albany, NY has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,215 → $1,615

up 32.9%

Income

$66,624 → $70,413

up 5.7%

Population

22,143 → 23,289

up 5.2%

Renter share

51.9% → 54.9%

+3.0 pts

Bachelor's+

56.6% → 54.7%

-1.9 pts

Rent in ZIP 12208 in Albany, NY has climbed 32.9% since 2021, going from about $1,215 per month to roughly $1,615 today. Median household income grew from $66,624 to $70,413 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.7% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 27.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 22,143 to 23,289 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.2% change. About 54.9% of households rent today, against 51.9% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 12208 in Albany, NY reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 12208

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 12208 covers Albany, NY. The median rent here is $1,615/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,430/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,720/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($70,413/yr), ZIP 12208 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 12208?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $65,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,615/mo in ZIP 12208. The local median household income is $70,413/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 12208?

Rent in ZIP 12208 has risen 6.6% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2021.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 12208?

Asking rents in ZIP 12208 are usually lowest in November, about 0.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in May, about 1.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $32 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 12208 compare to other ZIPs in New York?

ZIP 12208 is one of the more affordable among New York ZIP codes for rent, ranking #265 of 334 at $1,615/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 12208 changed +6.6%, against a typical +5.6% across the 251 New York ZIP codes Zillow tracks.