Pros and Cons of Living in Keene
Keene's honest tradeoff is real, below-national housing costs and strong regional healthcare access, set against a genuinely extreme property tax rate this record does not soften.
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Learn moreReal advantages
Keene offers below-national home prices, the most affordable rent among comparable NH towns this record reviewed, a genuinely walkable downtown, and strong regional healthcare access via Cheshire Medical Center.
Real tradeoffs
Keene's property tax rate is the second-highest in New Hampshire, Keene State College faces a real, disclosed enrollment and budget deficit, and this record found a real gap in K-12 and crime data.
The net read
For movers prioritizing walkable college-town character and lower purchase prices who can absorb New Hampshire's most extreme local property tax burden outside Charlestown, the advantages are real. For those needing the lowest possible total tax cost, the disclosed rate carries real weight.
Key takeaways
- Real pros: below-national housing, affordable rent, walkability, and strong healthcare access.
- Real cons: New Hampshire's second-highest property tax rate and Keene State College's disclosed budget stress.
- The net read favors college-town-character seekers who can absorb an extreme local property tax rate.
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