Keene, NH: what USGS's seismic model says

Keene carries Seismic Design Category B under USGS's ASCE 7-16 model. Low seismic hazard. Code requires basic seismic detailing (bracing, connections) but no special structural system restrictions. Nationally, Keene ranks above 60% of the 4,875 cities in this dataset for seismic hazard - the 60th percentile.

How Keene compares

USGS's underlying values for Keene: 0.134g peak ground acceleration, 0.238g at short period, 0.067g at 1 second. Within New Hampshire alone, Keene ranks 13 of 13 cities by seismic hazard - the 0th percentile in-state. Keene has a population of about 23,036.

Bracing and bolting: the actual cost

A full earthquake retrofit typically runs $5,000-$10,000 nationally (around $7,000 typical), driven mainly by house size and foundation type, not by New Hampshire specifically. California's Earthquake Brace + Bolt grant, which covers a large share of this cost, is a California-only program and does not apply in New Hampshire.

Earthquake insurance for a Keene home

A Keene homeowner cannot buy a standalone earthquake policy in most cases - it is added to an existing homeowners policy as an endorsement, so the place to start is a regular home-insurance quote.

Where Keene's figures come from

Keene's Category B and every number above trace to USGS's own ASCE 7-16 Design Maps service - see the methodology guide. See the category explainer for what Category B does and doesn't tell you about Keene.