Zip code 12970: Paul Smiths, New York

Q: What city is zip code 12970?

12970 is assigned to Paul Smiths, New York. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 12970 in?

12970 is in Franklin County, New York.

Q: What is the population of 12970?

About 1,084 people live in 12970, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 12970?

The median household income in 12970 is $84,250.

Q: What zip codes are near 12970?

The closest zip codes to 12970 are 12976, 12939, 12945, 12983, 12980.

Residential delivery areaFranklin CountyEastern Time

Population

1,084

Median household income

$84K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$242K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,034/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

21.5

U.S. 38.9

Land area

109 sq mi

10 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 12970

12970 is a rural zip code in Paul Smiths, New York (Franklin County), covering 109 sq mi of land. About 1,084 people live here, or 10 per square mile. The median resident is 21.5 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $84,250 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 3.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $242,100, or 2.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 64% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,034 a month.

49% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 15.8 minutes each way, and 13% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in education; office and administrative support; and construction and repair.

How 12970 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy52.6%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · NY 10%115th of 1,675 in NY
Unemployment rate9.2%
92nd
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · NY 6.4%200th of 1,685 in NY
Bachelor's degree or higher48.5%
77th
U.S. 35.7% · NY 40.2%387th of 1,691 in NY
Self-employed workers10%
59th
U.S. 10% · NY 9.7%809th of 1,685 in NY
Median household income$84,250
55th
U.S. $80,734 · NY $85,974757th of 1,602 in NY
Work from home13.3%
53rd
U.S. 15.1% · NY 14.9%679th of 1,685 in NY
Government workers13.4%
48th
U.S. 14.5% · NY 16.4%1,286th of 1,685 in NY
Homeownership rate64.2%
40th
U.S. 65.2% · NY 54.3%1,299th of 1,673 in NY
Broadband access89.9%
33rd
U.S. 91% · NY 90.8%989th of 1,673 in NY
Median home value$242,100
31st
U.S. $332,700 · NY $423,800829th of 1,614 in NY
Residents 65 and older13.3%
25th
U.S. 17.2% · NY 17.9%1,462nd of 1,693 in NY
Median gross rent$1,034
24th
U.S. $1,413 · NY $1,621840th of 1,367 in NY
Foreign-born residents3.2%
19th
U.S. 14.1% · NY 22.8%1,018th of 1,693 in NY
Uninsured rate2.9%
12th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · NY 5.1%985th of 1,689 in NY
Diversity index17.7
10th
U.S. 61.4 · NY 65.51,091st of 1,693 in NY
Income inequality (Gini)0.377
9th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · NY 0.5171,316th of 1,669 in NY
Per capita income$24,420
7th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · NY $50,7121,610th of 1,690 in NY
Veterans2.1%
7th
U.S. 6.2% · NY 3.7%1,431st of 1,693 in NY
Poverty rate3.9%
6th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · NY 14%1,412th of 1,679 in NY
Average commute15.8 min
2nd
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NY 32.6 min1,556th of 1,618 in NY
Healthcare workers4.5%
2nd
U.S. 9.7% · NY 11.8%1,477th of 1,685 in NY
Population1,084
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · NY 19,852,3661,279th of 1,693 in NY
Population density10/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · NY 421/sq mi1,646th of 1,693 in NY
Median age21.5
1st
U.S. 38.9 · NY 39.81,666th of 1,693 in NY
Rent-burdened renters0%
1st
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NY 52.1%1,517th of 1,579 in NY
Residents under 186.9%
1st
U.S. 22% · NY 20.5%1,571st of 1,693 in NY
Median earnings per worker$11,977
1st
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · NY $55,3211,655th of 1,676 in NY
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · NY 3.5%1,439th of 1,685 in NY

Measure	12970	Franklin	NY	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NY
Housing vacancy	52.6%	23.5%	10%	10.1%	99th	115th of 1,675
Unemployment rateWeakness	9.2%	3.9%	6.4%	5.2%	92nd	200th of 1,685
Bachelor's degree or higher	48.5%	23.8%	40.2%	35.7%	77th	387th of 1,691
Self-employed workers	10%	10.3%	9.7%	10%	59th	809th of 1,685
Median household income	$84,250	$65,151	$85,974	$80,734	55th	757th of 1,602
Work from home	13.3%	6.1%	14.9%	15.1%	53rd	679th of 1,685
Government workers	13.4%	30.4%	16.4%	14.5%	48th	1,286th of 1,685
Homeownership rate	64.2%	72.5%	54.3%	65.2%	40th	1,299th of 1,673
Broadband access	89.9%	86.4%	90.8%	91%	33rd	989th of 1,673
Median home value	$242,100	$145,400	$423,800	$332,700	31st	829th of 1,614
Residents 65 and older	13.3%	19.5%	17.9%	17.2%	25th	1,462nd of 1,693
Median gross rent	$1,034	$843	$1,621	$1,413	24th	840th of 1,367
Foreign-born residents	3.2%	3.5%	22.8%	14.1%	19th	1,018th of 1,693
Uninsured rateStrength	2.9%	5.7%	5.1%	8.4%	12th	985th of 1,689
Diversity index	17.7	29.8	65.5	61.4	10th	1,091st of 1,693
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.377	0.425	0.517	0.483	9th	1,316th of 1,669
Per capita incomeWeakness	$24,420	$32,684	$50,712	$44,673	7th	1,610th of 1,690
Veterans	2.1%	7.3%	3.7%	6.2%	7th	1,431st of 1,693
Poverty rateStrength	3.9%	18.2%	14%	12.5%	6th	1,412th of 1,679
Average commuteStrength	15.8 min	20.7 min	32.6 min	26.4 min	2nd	1,556th of 1,618
Healthcare workers	4.5%	12.3%	11.8%	9.7%	2nd	1,477th of 1,685
Population	1,084	46,696	19,852,366	334,922,499	1st	1,279th of 1,693
Population density	10/sq mi	29/sq mi	421/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	1,646th of 1,693
Median age	21.5	42	39.8	38.9	1st	1,666th of 1,693
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	0%	37.5%	52.1%	51.1%	1st	1,517th of 1,579
Residents under 18	6.9%	19.9%	20.5%	22%	1st	1,571st of 1,693
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$11,977	$44,652	$55,321	$49,666	1st	1,655th of 1,676
Tech workers	0%	0.8%	3.5%	3.8%	1st	1,439th of 1,685

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

5–17

59%

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

21.5

Under 18

6.9%

65 and over

13.3%

Race and ethnicity

White91%
Black1%
Hispanic4%
Asian2%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

17.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

66.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

97%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 218
Average household size: 2.1
Family households: 59.2%
Married couples: 56.4%
Living alone: 26.1%
Veterans (of adults): 2.1%
Male / female: 61% / 39%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

16%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

17%

$100–150k

23%

$150–200k

11%

$200k+

Median household income

12970

$84,250

Franklin Co.

$65,151

New York

$85,974

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$24,420

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

3.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

19.7%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.377

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

12970

$242,100

Franklin Co.

$145,400

New York

$423,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

12970

$1,034

Franklin Co.

$843

New York

$1,621

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

89%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 460
Owner-occupied: 64.2%
Vacant: 52.6%
Median year built: 1939 or earlier
Median rooms: 5.6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 0%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 2.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

52%

Carpooled

13%

Transit

Walked

21%

Bicycle

0.2%

Worked from home

13%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

48%

10–19

15%

20–29

16%

30–44

12%

45–59

60+

Average commute

15.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

9.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

53%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Education

27%

Office and admin

21%

Construction and repair

10%

Management

Sales

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Healthcare

Engineering and science

Production

Transportation and moving

Police and fire

Legal and social services

0.6%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.6%

Business and finance

0.4%

Arts, media and sports

0.4%

Computer and math

Industries

Education

47%

Construction

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Retail

Professional and technical services

Restaurants and hotels

Health care and social assistance

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Agriculture and mining

Manufacturing

Information

0.6%

Arts and recreation

0.6%

Wholesale

Median earnings per worker

$11,977

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

10%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

13.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

22.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	12970	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$11,042	$74,888
Service	$15,385	$26,804
Sales and office	$9,335	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$49,250	$49,199
Production and transportation	$68,000	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

12%

Some college

22%

Associate's

15%

Bachelor's

32%

Graduate

16%

High school graduate or higher: 97.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 48.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 16.4%
Households with broadband: 89.9%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 75.7%
No internet access: 4.1%
Without health insurance: 2.9%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Paul Smiths
State: New York
County: Franklin County
Center point: 44.4462° N, 74.3367° W
Land area: 109 sq mi
Water area: 7.6 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 12970

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
12976	Rainbow Lake, NY	6.6 mi	137	$61,406	$231,300
12939	Gabriels, NY	8.7 mi	173	$51,635	$275,000
12945	Lake Clear, NY	11 mi	391	$80,227	$278,100
12983	Saranac Lake, NY	12 mi	7,296	$65,985	$225,200
12980	Saint Regis Falls, NY	12 mi	1,075	$60,938	$106,500
12989	Vermontville, NY	15 mi	1,110	$84,464	$228,400
12977	Ray Brook, NY	16 mi	1,213	—	—
12973	Piercefield, NY	16 mi	154	$104,091	$106,300
13672	Parishville, NY	16 mi	449	$76,216	$97,500
12986	Tupper Lake, NY	16 mi	5,326	$67,883	$158,900
12913	Bloomingdale, NY	17 mi	989	$81,250	$207,900
12953	Malone, NY	21 mi	12,893	$68,799	$129,400

Zip codes like 12970 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 12970

What city is zip code 12970?

12970 is assigned to Paul Smiths, New York. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 12970 in?

12970 is in Franklin County, New York.

What is the population of 12970?

About 1,084 people live in 12970, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 12970 in?

12970 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 12970?

The median household income in 12970 is $84,250.

What zip codes are near 12970?

The closest zip codes to 12970 are 12976, 12939, 12945, 12983, 12980.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 12970, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.