Can A Chef Afford Rent in Keene, NH?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33% of gross income.

Keene rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Hampshire state estimate).

Keene median rent
$1,818/mo
Chef salary (New Hampshire)
$66,075/yr
Rent as % of income
33%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,506, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,652/mo in rent. Keene's median rent of $1,818 exceeds that threshold by $166/mo, putting a chef salary into the rent-burdened range here. A chef works roughly 57.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These New Hampshire cities have lower median rent than Keene, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Concord, NH
$1,815/mo (33% of income)
Concord, NH
$1,815/mo (33% of income)
Concord, NH
$1,814/mo (32.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Keene

View full rent data for Keene, NH

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Keene, NH?

Median rent in Keene is $1,818 a month. A typical chef in New Hampshire earns about $66,075 a year, which makes that rent 33% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a chef afford in Keene?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in New Hampshire (~$66,075/yr) supports up to $1,652 a month in rent. Keene's current median rent is $1,818/mo, which is $166/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Keene?

At an hourly equivalent of about $32 an hour, a chef in New Hampshire works roughly 57.2 hours a month to cover Keene's median rent of $1,818.

Where is rent cheaper than Keene for a chef?

Nearby New Hampshire cities with lower median rent include Concord ($1,815/mo), Concord ($1,815/mo), Concord ($1,814/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New Hampshire state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Keene, NH. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.