Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 22,939 residents · Cheshire County, New Hampshire

Keene , New Hampshire

In Keene, a typical home is worth $252,500 and typical rent is $1,342 a month. Compared with all of Cheshire County, the typical home value is 10% lower, typical household income is 6% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $252,500

    10% below the county

    37% below New Hampshire

    • Keene
    • Cheshire
    • New Hampshire

  • Typical rent

    $1,342a month

    5% above the county

    10% below New Hampshire

    • Keene
    • Cheshire
    • New Hampshire

  • Typical household income

    $78,445a year

    6% below the county

    21% below New Hampshire

    • Keene
    • Cheshire
    • New Hampshire

  • Households that own their home

    55%

    18 points below the county

    18 points below New Hampshire

    • Keene
    • Cheshire
    • New Hampshire

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$353,214
3.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,833 a month
3.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Keene is in Cheshire County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cheshire County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Keene apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 55% of households in Keene own their home, against 73% in Cheshire County.

  2. Nearby, in Claremont, the typical home value is $204,600: 19% less than in Keene ($252,500).

  3. Keene has the 3rd lowest typical home value of the 26 cities in New Hampshire with more than 5,000 people ($252,500).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Keene

What homes there are in Keene, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Homes in Keene are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 46%, against 69% in Cheshire County.

Year built

Homes in Keene are older: the typical year built is 1961; in Cheshire County, 1972.

There are fewer big homes in Keene than in Cheshire County: 51% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 58%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 94% of owner-occupied homes in Keene are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Cheshire County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Keene cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,734): about 74%.

With a mortgage

$2,061 a month

Cheshire County: $1,947 a month

Without a mortgage

$980 a month

Cheshire County: $908 a month

Owners with a mortgage

56%

Cheshire County: 59%

Owning costs more in Keene: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,061 a month; in Cheshire County, $1,947. Without one, $980.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Keene gained value more slowly than in Cheshire County: 33% since 2015–2019, against 43%.

The typical rent in Keene rose 37% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Cheshire County (35%).

To compare: typical income in Keene rose 38%; the home, +33%; the rent, +37%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureKeeneCheshire CountyNew HampshireUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.0%4.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.4%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.2%1.4%3.4%
People per household 2.182.402.442.53
Drive alone 66%75%72%69%
Carpool 9%8%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 8%4%3%3%
Work from home 16%13%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Keene has 2.18 people, fewer than in Cheshire County (2.40).

In Keene, 8% of workers walk or bike to work; in Cheshire County, 4%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Keene?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Keene, worth $252,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income in Keene, which is $78,445 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $105,624 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cheshire County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Keene. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,838 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,465

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$247,926
Total interest
$356,707
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,264 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,830 a month

  • Tight

    $1,830 to $2,353 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,353 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in Keene ($78,445 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,465
Principal & interest$1,680
Property tax$568
Home insurance$105
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$112

You need at least $8,838 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Keene and Cheshire County

Keene is in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Keene's own numbers

Typical home value
$252,500
Typical monthly rent
$1,342
Typical yearly household income
$78,445
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
2.7%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Cheshire County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,734
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+67%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cheshire County.

Everything about Cheshire County

Buying

Buying a home in Keene

A typical home in Keene is worth $252,500: 10% below the county and 37% below New Hampshire. With the typical household income in Keene ($78,445 a year), a typical home costs 3.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Keene 3.2 years
  • Cheshire 3.4 years
  • New Hampshire 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Cheshire County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cheshire County rose 106% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cheshire County.

Period County New Hampshire U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.2% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +67% +66% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +106% +113% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Keene next to Cheshire County, New Hampshire and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Keene $252,500
  • Cheshire $280,100
  • New Hampshire $402,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Keene $1,342
  • Cheshire $1,276
  • New Hampshire $1,491
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Keene $78,445
  • Cheshire $83,329
  • New Hampshire $99,031
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Keene next to Cheshire County and New Hampshire
Measure Keene Cheshire County New Hampshire U.S.
Typical home value $252,500 $280,100 $402,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,342 $1,276 $1,491 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $78,445 $83,329 $99,031 $80,734
Households that own their home 55% 73% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $6,812 $6,048 $6,667 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.7% 2.16% 1.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 44% 49% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cheshire County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Keene

For a typical $252,500 home in Keene, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Keene's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,465a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,838
    Cash to close
    $16,413
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $112

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,418a month

    Down payment
    $12,625
    Cash to close
    $20,200
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $120

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,042a month

    Down payment
    $50,500
    Cash to close
    $58,075
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,275a month

    Down payment
    $37,875
    Cash to close
    $45,450
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Keene and for Cheshire County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Keene

2.7%of the home’s value each year

$6,812 a year for the typical owner in Keene.

  • Keene 2.7%
  • Cheshire 2.16%
  • New Hampshire 1.66%

What New Hampshire publishes Deadline to apply for exemptions and credits: April 15 (New Hampshire General Court (Revised Statutes Annotated))

Exemptions and deadlines in New Hampshire

Flood risk in Cheshire County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Cheshire County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3%
762
Of those, with NFIP insurance
21%
County New Hampshire U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 21% 26% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Keene

Typical rent in Keene is $1,342 a month: 5% above the county. In Keene, 44% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cheshire County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,734 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $33.35 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Cheshire County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,199 $23.06 $47,960
1 bedroom $1,322 $25.42 $52,880
2 bedrooms $1,734 $33.35 $69,360
3 bedrooms $2,267 $43.60 $90,680
4 bedrooms $2,295 $44.13 $91,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Keene

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Keene is in ZIP code 03431.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,810: $76 more than the fair market rent for Cheshire County ($1,734).

  • 03431 $1,810$2,370

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Keene when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Keene

HUD lists 15 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Keene. These are the largest.

  • Central Square Terrace 47 Central Sq, Keene 90 low-income homes · Studio: 9 · 1 bd: 81 · In service since 2020 · For older adults, people with disabilities
  • Central Square Terrace 5 Central Sq, Keene 03431 90 low-income homes · For older adults
  • Cleveland Place 21 Roxbury Plz, Keene 03431 75 low-income homes · For older adults
  • Autumn Leaf Village 50 Ivy Dr, Keene 03431 56 low-income homes · For older adults
  • Keene Highlands 11 Citizens Way, Keene 40 low-income homes · 1 bd: 3 · 2 bd: 17 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 2005 · For families

See all 41 buildings in Cheshire County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Keene

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Cheshire County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Keene

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Keene or Cheshire County. The ones below are statewide in New Hampshire: they work in Keene the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire Housing Cash Downpayment Assistance

    Statewide in New Hampshire

    New Hampshire state agency cash assistance of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 for the down payment with an NH Housing mortgage; open to any buyer who qualifies, not only first-time buyers. Offered by New Hampshire Housing.

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • 1stGenHomeNH

    Statewide in New Hampshire

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    New Hampshire state agency help of $10,000 for the down payment, closing costs and the escrow account, as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when you sell, refinance or leave the home; for first-generation buyers, people who were in foster care, or refugees or asylees. Offered by New Hampshire Housing.

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Keene

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Keene, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority

    32 Constitution Dr, Bedford · 41 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (603) 310-9287

  • New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority

    32 Constitution Dr, Bedford · 41 miles away

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    (603) 472-8623

  • Neighborworks of Southern New Hampshire

    801 Elm St, Manchester · 43 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (603) 626-4663

All counseling agencies in New Hampshire

Help in Spanish near Keene

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Keene

HUD’s record names them for Keene or Cheshire County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in New Hampshire Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Keene, with the typical home value.

Everything about Cheshire County Housing in New Hampshire

Neighboring counties

If Cheshire County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Keene.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Keene

Short answers with the numbers for Keene and all of Cheshire County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Keene?

The typical home value in Keene is $252,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cheshire County it is $280,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Keene?

Typical rent in Keene is $1,342 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cheshire County is $1,734.

What is the FHA loan limit in Keene?

Keene uses the FHA limit for all of Cheshire County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Keene?

The typical homeowner in Keene pays $6,812 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.7% of the home’s value; in Cheshire County, the rate is 2.16%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Keene?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cheshire County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).