Real Estate Investing in Keene, New York (12942)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Essex County • Population: 462 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 12942 (Keene, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 56.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Keene, NY (12942)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $501,612
Avg Monthly Rent $1,602
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $113,750
% Renters 8.6%

Market Analysis: 12942 Keene

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Keene's 12942 ZIP sits at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $502K pricing implies.

The investment case in 12942 is substantial only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $502K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 12942's metrics run below Essex County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Looking more closely, 462 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategically, 12942 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Keene:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,602/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 12942

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$161,337/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $401,970 $1,780 3.2% +9.1% $200,985
3BR $484,011 $2,190 3.3% +9.0% $161,337

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$524K$458K$392K$326K$259K$193KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 12942 Compare?

Metric 12942 Keene New York
Home Value $501,612 $501,612 $505,608
5-Year CAGR 7.3% 7.3% 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,602 $1,602 -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 12942? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 12942 (Keene, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $501,612
Monthly Rent $1,602
Price-to-Rent 26.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
56.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 12942

Population: 462

💰 Median Household Income
$113,750
This area
$113,750
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
66.1%
This area
66.1%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
55.9 years
This area
55.9 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
56.0%
This area
56.0%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.7%
Asian 1.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.0%
Other/Mixed 1.0%
👶 Under 18
6.0%
This area
6.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
34.5%
This area
34.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Keene, NY?

Keene, NY scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $502K and rents near $1,602/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is vacancy a concern in Keene, NY?

Keene, NY carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect consistent absorption at market rents of $1,602/mo.

What approach is best for Keene, NY real estate?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Keene, NY best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $502K price point.

Can I house hack in Keene, NY?

House hacking works a challenging in Keene, NY. Rents of $1,602/mo against $502K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Keene, NY?

The tenant pool in Keene, NY is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,602/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 12942 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 12942 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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