Keene at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 22,917 residents, ranking 6th of 13 places in New Hampshire (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 23,038 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.5% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Hampshire places: 6th largest of 13 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 54% of places in New Hampshire rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.9538, -72.3069 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Fitchburg, MA (35 mi); Leominster, MA (40 mi); Amherst Town, MA (42 mi); Concord, NH (42 mi); Manchester, NH (44 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places close by: Westminster, VT (11 mi); Bellows Falls, VT (15 mi); Saxtons River, VT (16 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Keene
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
New Hampshire lending rules that apply in Keene
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Keene: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan, payday, and title loan lenders must be licensed by the banking department (RSA 399-A:2) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a small loan lender in this state ... without first obtaining a license from the commissioner" | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New Hampshire Banking Department Source says: ""Department" means the banking department." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small loan APR cap (RSA 399-A:16) | Small loans other than payday or title loans: annual percentage rate capped at 36% Source says: "The annual percentage rate for small loans shall not exceed 36 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year in business transactions absent a written agreement; consumer credit transactions excluded Source says: "The annual rate of interest in all business transactions in which interest is paid or secured, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing, shall equal 10 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal; annual percentage rate capped at 36% (RSA 399-A:17) Source says: "The annual percentage rate for payday loans shall not exceed 36 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Keene
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Keene:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in New Hampshire using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.