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Living in
Keene.
About
Life in Keene
Keene is a community of 22,923 people in New Hampshire. The median household income is $78,183, median rent runs about $1,342 per month, and median home values are around $252,500. Unemployment is low at 2.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Keene at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Foreign-Born
3.9%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.9% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Keene: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Keene, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (14.0%), and 1.2% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
14.1%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
19.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.2%
of households
Married Couples
38.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 10% below NH average
Rent, home values, and income in Keene
In Keene, rent runs 10% below the NH average, and home values are 37% below the NH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$6,812
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $353,214 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NH
Unemployment in Keene
Unemployment in Keene is close to the NH average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Keene Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.2 min avg
How Keene residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Keene, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 43 mi
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT)
Small hub686k passengers boarded in 2025
- 72 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 75 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 56% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Keene runs 56% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
143.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,114.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Keene Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
60.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cheshire County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cheshire County, which includes Keene, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 19 | Hail | $14,000 |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.0M |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $110,000 |
| 2019 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | Not estimated |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $85,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cheshire County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cheshire County, which includes Keene, is typically good — 288 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
288
per year
Moderate Days
75
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Cheshire County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Keene has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/30°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/54°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.1"
Annual Snowfall
59.8"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
174
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
134
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 10°F | 3.12" |
| Feb | 34°F | 11°F | 2.77" |
| Mar | 43°F | 20°F | 3.35" |
| Apr | 57°F | 30°F | 3.39" |
| May | 69°F | 41°F | 3.77" |
| Jun | 77°F | 51°F | 4.41" |
| Jul | 82°F | 56°F | 4.49" |
| Aug | 81°F | 54°F | 4.28" |
| Sep | 73°F | 47°F | 4.26" |
| Oct | 60°F | 36°F | 4.86" |
| Nov | 47°F | 27°F | 3.49" |
| Dec | 36°F | 18°F | 3.92" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Keene
Keene has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Cheshire Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Keene
Keene's student/teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 44.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
44.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Keene
Public · 4-year · 2,699 students · in-state tuition $15,154 · 60% graduate · median earnings $62,326 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, 38 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Keene
Keene has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (38 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park
National Historical Park
38 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
47 mi awayMarsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park
National Historical Park
49 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
54 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
57 mi awaySpringfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
60 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
61 mi awaySaratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayPublic Libraries in Keene
Keene Public Library
60 Winter Street, Keene
Cities Near Keene
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Keene?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Keene FAQ
Is Keene, New Hampshire affordable?⌄
Keene's median rent is $1,342/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $78,445/year. Median home value is $252,500.
Is Keene, New Hampshire safe?⌄
Keene's violent crime rate was 143 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2114 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Keene, New Hampshire?⌄
Keene has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Keene, New Hampshire?⌄
The cost of living in Keene is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,342/month and median household income is $78,445/year. The median home value is $252,500. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Keene, New Hampshire?⌄
The average commute in Keene is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from