City profile · New Hampshire · Census ACS 2023

Keene, NH

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Keene - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

22,923
Residents
$78,183
Median income
$232,500
Median home
$1,926
Median rent (state)

Keene - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Keene lands in the 60th percentile for household income and the 25th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

60th
percentile, household income
51st
percentile, home value
80th
percentile, median rent
25th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Keene, NH

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 22,923 residents in Keene, a small city within New Hampshire. Median household income here is $78,183 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.0%. Typical homes in Keene are valued around $232,500, and the median resident age is 35.9 years. 43.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 60.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 13 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 86% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2352.0 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Keene's yearly average temperature at 45.4°F with 46.1 inches of precipitation per year and 59.8 inches of snowfall.

New Hampshire carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New Hampshire scores 104.2 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,926 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Hampshire run around $307, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 60.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

22,923 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Hampshire

Median Household Income

$78,183 /yr

Poverty 3.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

104.2 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Hampshire average

How does Keene compare to other US cities?

Here's how Keene stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 51% pricier than other cities
Median rent 80% pricier than other cities
Safety 25% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at New Hampshire, Keene ranks #50 of 53 New Hampshire cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Keene against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New Hampshire only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New Hampshire-relative analysis

Median Home Value sits close to the middle of New Hampshire's city distribution

Among the 94 New Hampshire cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Keene ranks #66 - the 30th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Keene only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#42 of 92
54th percentile in New Hampshire
Median Gross Rent
#50 of 100
42nd percentile in New Hampshire
Median Home Value
#66 of 94
30th percentile in New Hampshire
Poverty Rate
#52 of 99
46th percentile in New Hampshire
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#31 of 100
69th percentile in New Hampshire

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New Hampshire only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

60thIncome percentile
25thSafety percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income · 25th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Keene's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Keene's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 40 Avg. percentile National median
Keene's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Keene's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$232,500 49th percentile more affordable than 49% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Keene $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Keene, NH Keene, NH's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Keene, NH-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Keene, NH median $78,183/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Keene, NH's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Keene, NH. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 43.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
22,923
Median Income
$78,183
Median Home Value
$232,500
Median Age
35.9
Poverty Rate
3.0%
Labor force participation
60.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
43.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2352.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
179.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2172.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
45.4°F
Annual Precipitation
46.1"
Annual Snowfall
59.8"

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
22,600 residents22,800 residents23,000 residents23,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 23,049 residents 23,072 residents ▲ +0.1%
Keene's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
13
housing units authorized
Single-Family
13
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 7
2020 3
2021 2
2022 14
2023 7
2024 13

Permit volume increased 86% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.0%
Carpool
11.2%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
5.0%
Work from Home
13.0%
Other
1.7%

Based on 11,964 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Hampshire - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$105
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$307
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Hampshire state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Hampshire state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Keene sits in

Cost of Living Index
104.2
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,926/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Hampshire

Portsmouth
22,332 people
Derry
21,668 people
Laconia
16,982 people
Lebanon
14,759 people
Claremont
13,054 people
Rochester
32,866 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Keene's 22,923 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Prairie, KS
22,937 people
West Springfield, VA
22,905 people
Hopewell, VA
22,944 people
New Brighton, MN
22,900 people
Radcliff, KY
22,967 people
Watertown, WI
22,873 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Keene's $78,183 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Maysville, GA
$78,182 median income
Veazie, ME
$78,182 median income
Winfield, PA
$78,182 median income
Jeffersontown, KY
$78,185 median income
Willows, CA
$78,179 median income
Monroeville, PA
$78,191 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Keene, NH Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Keene, NH - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.3% White 92.5% Black or African American 1.6% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 4.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Keene compares to nearby New Hampshire cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Keene (this city) 22,923 $78,183
Portsmouth 22,332 $105,756
Derry 21,668 $88,901
Laconia 16,982 $68,427
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NH FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Keene, NH?

What is the population of Keene, NH? +

22,923 people live in Keene, NH according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Keene, NH? +

In Keene, the typical household earns $78,183 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Keene? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Keene; the closest available measure is the New Hampshire state average, a cost of living index of 104.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Hampshire vary by metro area.

Is Keene, NH safe? +

Keene has a total crime rate of 2352.0 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Keene, NH? +

Homes in Keene carry a median value of $232,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Keene? +

The average annual temperature in Keene runs 45.4°F, 46.1 inches of precipitation, and 59.8 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.