ZIP Code · NY

ZIP 12309

Part of Schenectady, NY

Pop. 33,246·Schenectady County·285th most expensive ZIP in New York

Median rent (all units)

$1,494/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

-$438

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 12309 · $1,494

More affordable than 73% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,370

1 BR

$1,590

2 BR

$1,910

3 BR

$2,290

4 BR+

$2,530

Research median

$1,910/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: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of New York

Rent in ZIP 12309 changed +0.7% over the year to August 2026. Across the 250 New York ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +5.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($125,274) is $3,132 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,530).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 12309. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,928/yr

At $1,494/mo median

Location

CitySchenectady

StateNY

CountySchenectady County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (0.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.7% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 12309 (Schenectady, NY) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 61.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

33,246

Median income

$125,274

Median age

41.3

Renters

18.3%

Age distribution

25.3%

15.6%

27.2%

13.1%

18.9%

Under 1825.3%

18–3415.6%

35–5427.2%

55–6413.1%

65+18.9%

Gender

50.8%

49.2%

Male50.8%

Female49.2%

Race & ethnicity

74.4%

White74.4%

Black6.1%

Hispanic6%

Asian8.7%

Other4.8%

Education (25+)

13.3%

22%

61.1%

No HS diploma3.6%

HS diploma13.3%

Some college22%

Bachelor's+61.1%

Housing tenure

81.7%

18.3%

Owner81.7%

Renter18.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 12309 in Schenectady, NY has changed in 5 years

Income

$111,830 → $125,274

up 12.0%

Population

33,172 → 33,246

up 0.2%

Renter share

18.5% → 18.3%

-0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

56.1% → 61.1%

+5.0 pts

Median age

41.9 → 41.3

-0.6 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 12309 in Schenectady, NY now reports about $125,274, up from $111,830 in 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 56.1% to 61.1% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 12309

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 12309

About renting in ZIP 12309

Last updated: September 25, 2026

ZIP code 12309 covers Schenectady, NY. The median rent here is $1,494/mo as of September 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,590/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,910/mo.

At 14% of local median household income ($125,274/yr), ZIP 12309 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 12309?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $60,000/year (about $29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,494/mo in ZIP 12309. The local median household income is $125,274/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 12309?

Rent in ZIP 12309 has risen 0.7% over the past year.

How does ZIP 12309 compare to other ZIPs in New York?

ZIP 12309 is one of the more affordable among New York ZIP codes for rent, ranking #285 of 341 at $1,494/mo. Over the year to August 2026, rent in ZIP 12309 changed +0.7%, against a typical +5.4% across the 250 New York ZIP codes Zillow tracks.