The Town FilesKeene, New Hampshire
City in Cheshire County · population 23,047 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $252,500
- Household income
- $78,445
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 60 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 37.6
Keene is a city of 23,047 people in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $252,500, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks hipper than 100% of New Hampshire towns, more vibrant than 96% of New Hampshire towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of New Hampshire towns.
How Keene ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Keene is worth $252,500, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $78,445, which is more affordable than 83% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,342 a month. 55.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Keene | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $252,500 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,342 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $78,445 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.1% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Keene
| People | Keene | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 14.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.1% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 92.5% |
Weather in Keene
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 46.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.8 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keene since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 6, 1969 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 29, 2012.
Severe weather in Cheshire County since 1996
Cheshire County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 4, 2021 | Flood | DR-4624: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 30, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4622: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cheshire County
Cheshire County had 31,134 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,392 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Keene itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Keene
10 public schools with 3,355 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keene High School | 9-12 | 1,328 | 12.6 |
| Keene Middle School | 6-8 | 601 | 10.4 |
| Symonds Elementary School | K-5 | 303 | 11.2 |
| Fuller Elementary School | K-5 | 284 | 10.9 |
| Gathering Waters Charter School (E) (charter) | K-8 | 216 | 14.4 |
| Franklin Elementary School | K-5 | 215 | 9.8 |
| Wheelock Elementary School | K-5 | 194 | 8.8 |
| Jonathan Daniels School | PK-PK | 93 | 23.3 |
| Making Community Connections Charter School - Monadnock (charter) | 9-12 | 65 | 16.3 |
| Gathering Waters Charter School (H) (charter) | 9-12 | 56 | 4.7 |
Towns near Keene
- Swanzey, NH6.6 mi · 7,270 people · home $259,200
- Chesterfield, NH8.3 mi · 3,552 people · home $373,500
- Walpole, NH10.0 mi · 3,633 people · home $319,800
- Putney, VT11.6 mi · 2,617 people · home $300,000
- Winchester, NH12.2 mi · 4,150 people · home $242,900
- Westminster, VT13.2 mi · 3,016 people · home $273,800
- Hinsdale, NH14.1 mi · 3,948 people · home $200,700
- Brattleboro, VT14.3 mi · 7,352 people · home $234,600
Keene questions
Is Keene, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Keene scores better for retirees than 24% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 5%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Keene?
The median owner-occupied home in Keene is valued at $252,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,445, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,342 a month.
What is the weather like in Keene?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.1 inches of precipitation a year and 59.8 inches of snow.
Does Keene get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keene since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 6, 1969. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)