What's on your tax bill?
Keene's property tax rate for fiscal year 2027 is $37.54 per $1,000 of assessed value, up from $34.37 in FY26 — a 9.21% increase. The rate has four components, set by four different bodies. The City of Keene directly controls only the city portion ($14.52), which rose 6.7% from FY26.
Source: Operating Budget Fiscal Policy Compliance, page 15 of the FY27 budget.
Enter your home's assessed value
Assessed value is not market value. Look up yours at the City of Keene assessment data or call (603) 352-2125.
On this page: The four components · Why the rate changes · What the City controls · See also
The four components
| Component | FY26 Rate | FY27 Rate | Change | % Change | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | $13.61 | $14.52 | +0.91 | +6.7% | 38.7% |
| Local Education | $15.93 | $18.07 | +2.14 | +13.4% | 48.1% |
| State Education | $1.57 | $1.59 | +0.02 | +1.3% | 4.2% |
| County | $3.26 | $3.35 | +0.09 | +2.8% | 8.9% |
| Total | $34.37 | $37.54 | +3.17 | +9.21% | 100.0% |
Five-year trend
FY23–FY26 rates are final DRA-set rates. FY27 is the City Manager's recommended rate, subject to final adoption and DRA adjustment. Component rates are per $1,000 of assessed value. FY27 components sum to $37.53; the DRA-published total of $37.54 reflects rounding at the mill level. FY23–FY24 rates sourced from City of Keene Assessing.
What each component funds
City — $14.52
Funds city operations: police, fire, public works, parks, the library, city administration, and debt service on municipal bonds.
Source: City of Keene FY27 Budget, page 15
Local Education — $18.07
Funds the operating budget of the Keene School District, including all public schools in Keene.
Source: Keene School District budget
State Education — $1.59
A statewide property tax collected by all New Hampshire municipalities and sent to the state to fund education.
Source: NH Dept. of Revenue Administration
County — $3.35
Funds Cheshire County government, including the county nursing home, sheriff, corrections, and county administration.
Source: Cheshire County budget
Why the rate changes
The property tax rate is a function of two inputs: the revenue the City needs to raise and the assessed value base it is levied against. When assessed values stay flat but revenue needs grow, the rate per $1,000 increases.
Total taxable assessed value
FY25–FY27: +0.2%
City property tax revenue (net)
FY25–FY27: +10.5%
Total taxable assessed value has remained essentially flat across the three years shown (+0.2%). Over the same period, city property tax revenue has increased +10.5%. The tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value bridges the gap between the revenue the City needs to raise and the property tax base it is levied against. A city-wide revaluation is currently in progress (reflecting market values as of April 1, 2026); when complete, it will update assessed values to current market conditions, which will mechanically change the rate per $1,000 without altering the revenue raised.
Source: assessed values from Operating Budget Fiscal Policy Compliance, page 15; net property tax revenue (account 411050) from General Fund Revenue, page 17. FY25 actual, FY26 adopted budget, FY27 City Manager recommended.
Heads up: assessed values are changing in 2026.
Keene is completing a citywide property revaluation with an effective date of April 1, 2026. New assessment notices are scheduled to be mailed in mid-July 2026, with informal hearings in late July and August and final values delivered September 1, 2026.
The FY27 rate of $37.54 shown above was calculated using pre-revaluation assessed values. Once new values are set, the rate will be recalculated against the new total assessed value. A revaluation does not, by itself, change the amount of revenue the City, schools, or county collect — it redistributes the share each property pays based on updated market values.
If your property's new assessment rises faster than the citywide average, your bill will increase more than the budget change alone would suggest. If it rises slower, less. To estimate your bill after the revaluation, use your new assessed value once your notice arrives.
More on the revaluation process: City of Keene Revaluation · 2026 Tentative Schedule
What homeowners should watch for in 2026
- Mid-July 2026 — New assessment notices mailed to all property owners.
- Late July through August 2026 — Informal hearings with Vision Government Solutions. If you believe your new assessed value is incorrect, this is the window to raise it. No formal filing is required; you meet with an appraiser to review the data on your property.
- September 1, 2026 — Final values delivered to the Assessing Department. After this date, the path to challenge a value is a formal abatement application.
- Fall 2026 — New FY27 tax rate set against the updated total assessed value; reflected on your tax bill.
For questions about your property's assessment or the revaluation process, contact the Assessing Department at (603) 352-2125 or visit City Hall, 2nd floor, 3 Washington Street.
What the City controls
The City of Keene sets only the city portion of the tax rate. The other three components are set by separate governing bodies:
- The local education tax rate is determined by the Keene School District's adopted budget. Questions about school spending should be directed to SAU 29.
- The state education tax rate is set by the State of New Hampshire and administered by the Department of Revenue Administration.
- The county tax rate is determined by the Cheshire County budget. Questions about county spending should be directed to the Cheshire County government.
This page does not compare Keene's rates to other municipalities or cover assessment practices.
See also
- What does $57 million buy? — where the city portion of your tax dollar goes
- Where does the money come from? — all General Fund revenue sources, not just property tax
Source: Operating Budget Fiscal Policy Compliance, page 15 of the FY27 budget. All rates are per $1,000 of assessed value, City Manager recommended.