Population 23,765 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Keene: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Keene
Household size in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.37 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.21 | 2.50 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.49 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.23 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Keene is a place of small households, averaging 2.23 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.37, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.5 | 40.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.9 | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.8 | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.2 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
At 41.2, the median age in Keene is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in New Hampshire as a whole, where the median age is 44.2. The median age has climbed from 37.5 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Keene (10.8%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in New Hampshire overall (8.5%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.8 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Keene
Renters in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.1% | 27.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 43.5% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.2% | 27.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Keene than nationally: 44.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among owners, 44.3% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.1 points, mirroring the country. Of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 12.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 11.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Keene than nationally: 11.8%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1955 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Keene is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1960, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1955 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the east. Of the 68 New Hampshire cities with 5,000+ people, only four have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,033 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $989 | $1,094 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $990 | $1,224 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,528 | $1,597 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$495 | +$580 | +$606 |
The median renter in Keene pays $1,528 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $495 a month since 2006–10, up 48%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Keene
Bachelor's degrees in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.5% | 33.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.0% | 35.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.9% | 37.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.2% | 41.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +7.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than four in ten adults 25 and older in Keene (43.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.3% | 91.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.9% | 92.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.6% | 93.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.2% | 94.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Keene is above the national rate: 94.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. New Hampshire as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma is up 3.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Keene
| Period | Keene | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 3.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.7 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Keene has been strong: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Keene compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keene | 2.23 | 41.2 | 10.8% | 44.2% | 11.8% | 1960 | $1,528 | 43.2% | 94.2% | 1.9% |
| North Swanzey | 2.63 | 43.2 | 6.3% | 16.1% | 10.6% | 1985 | $1,181 | 35.8% | 95.8% | 1.6% |
| Surry | 2.65 | 46.2 | 5.9% | 7.8% | 9.0% | 1976 | $1,795 | 29.5% | 95.2% | 3.9% |
| West Swanzey | 2.33 | 51.1 | 12.1% | 26.6% | 1.4% | 1971 | $1,626 | 34.6% | 89.8% | 3.4% |
| Swanzey | 2.38 | 50.1 | 7.2% | 28.9% | 6.6% | 1972 | $1,535 | 29.9% | 94.6% | 2.6% |
| Marlborough | 2.26 | 46.5 | 9.1% | 31.5% | 9.9% | 1962 | $1,176 | 38.8% | 94.8% | 0.6% |
| Sullivan | 2.59 | 43.9 | 5.9% | 7.4% | 19.3% | 1976 | $1,263 | 41.4% | 92.0% | 2.6% |
| Spofford | 2.40 | 49.5 | 12.0% | 22.6% | 26.9% | 1979 | $1,332 | 47.2% | 95.0% | 3.8% |
| Westmoreland | 2.35 | 55.3 | 4.7% | 10.7% | 4.1% | 1975 | $1,352 | 47.2% | 96.5% | 2.6% |
| Gilsum | 2.68 | 45.4 | 4.7% | 8.3% | 11.1% | 1975 | $1,669 | 28.1% | 95.3% | 4.5% |
| Nelson | 2.54 | 46.5 | 5.3% | 7.1% | 22.8% | 1974 | $1,323 | 43.7% | 92.8% | 2.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Winchester, MA · Blackfoot, ID · Boaz, AL · Bourbonnais, IL · Brainerd, MN · Brambleton, VA · Breaux Bridge, LA · Brent, FL · Bronxville, NY · Brookings, SD
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Keene. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.