Rents are 2% below what Keene's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,833 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Keene is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.
Rent in Keene changed +3.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 New Hampshire cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($78,445) is $1,961 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,600); a 3-bedroom is $2,080.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Keene. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Keene, NH is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 44.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Keene, NH has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Keene, NH paid around $1,571 a month. That figure now sits near $1,833, up 16.7% from the 2023 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $63,490 in 2021 to $78,445 more recently. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 42% to 44.1% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Keene, NH market of 2023.
Discussions about Keene
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Can you afford rent in Keene on your salary?
At $1,833/mo, how Keene rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Keene rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Keene. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Keene
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Keene is $1,833/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,100/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,600/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,220/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,080/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($78,445/yr), Keene ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Keene?
Is rent going up or down in Keene?
How does Keene rent compare to other cities in New Hampshire?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Keene?
At $1,833/mo, rent takes ~28% of Keene's median household income ($78,445/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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