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Living in Helena

Helena's population was 21,769 in July 2026. Foreign-born residents accounted for 5% of the population in 2026. There were 701 physicians per 100,000 residents in 2026. In July 2026, owner occupation was 91.1% and the vacancy rate was 5.92%.

Last checked 2026-09-1938 sources

Population23,388people31 Dec 2025Official source · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program
Median gross salary4,400EUR/month31 Dec 2024Community source · Census Reporter ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B20002 (underlying U.S. Census Bureau ACS)
Median rent1,383EUR/month31 Dec 2024Independent source · Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables
Unemployment rate1.97%31 Dec 2024Independent source · Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables
Recorded crime507.3offences per 100,000country median 1,586 — 68% belowOfficial source · FBI Crime Data Explorer / Uniform Crime Reporting
PM2.5, annual mean8.99µg/m³country median 7.0 — 28% aboveOfficial source · EPA AQS annual PM2.5 monitor data 2024

Less recorded crime than 91% of American cities that publish it and dirtier air than 88% of American cities that publish it.

Which United States-wide rules apply when you move to Helena?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in United StatesNational rates and thresholds that apply in Helena.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

Median gross rent was US$1,574 per month, while the median home value was US$330,700 in July 2026. 62% of renter households spent at least 30% of income on housing in July 2026.

What recurs every month2 published recurring costs, € per month
Helena recurring monthly costs, € per month

€ / month

Internet, 60 Mbps€60
Mobile plan, 10 GB€22
MetricValuePeriodSource
Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited60.38 EUR/month30 Sept 2026Verizon 300 Mbps home internet25Official · national market
Mobile plan, 10 GB21.57 EUR/month30 Sept 2026Visible unlimited mobile plan26Official · national market
Median gross rent$1,574/month4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official
Households spending over 30% of income on rent62.01 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official
Housing vacancy rate (legacy series)5.92 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official
Average monthly rent (whole dwelling)1,412 EUR/month31 Dec 2020ACS 2020-2024 5-year table-based Summary File, tables B25065 (Aggregate Gross Rent) and B25063 (Gross Rent, units with cash rent)3Official
Median monthly rent1,383 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables29Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Recorded property crimes76 offenses/year31 Dec 2025FBI CIUS Table 8 by City 2025 (CDE offenses-known-to-le-2025.zip)13Official

Is Helena a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker48%strong on work, weak on air quality · range 40–56%
Skilled employee56%strong on work, weak on safety · range 47–65%
Student50%strong on education, weak on work · range 40–60%
Family61%strong on family, weak on cost · range 52–70%
Retirement46%strong on safety, weak on admin · range 36–56%

Worked out from these numbers

How international is the population?

4.6% of residents hold a foreign nationality — 1,087 of 23,388 people. This counts nationality, not place of birth, so long-settled residents who naturalised are not in it.

Uses a supplemental estimate, so treat it as indicative.

Work and income

Median household income was US$115,139 a year in July 2026.

Unemployment across cities in United StatesUnemployment in Helena is 2.0%. Of 2,153 cities with data, 1,250 have unemployment of 0 to under 5%.

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Median household income115,139 USD/year4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Households with cable, fibre or DSL broadband85 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Households with a broadband subscription96.62 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Households with internet but no subscription2.09 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Households without internet1.29 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Households with satellite internet8.25 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Median gross salary4,400 EUR/month31 Dec 2024Census Reporter ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B20002 (underlying U.S. Census Bureau ACS)28Community estimate · Supplemental context
Median gross salary (regional)3,530 EUR/month31 Dec 2025www.bls.gov27Official
Unemployment rate1.97 %31 Dec 2024Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables29Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context

What does a salary buy in Helena?

Take-home pay after tax, minus rent and the everyday bills this city publishes. Each line names its source.

regional median gross pay: €3,530 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025-12-31).
Left over each month€1,279of €2,773 take-home
  • Rent
  • Internet
  • Mobile
  • Left over
Line-by-line breakdown and sources
Each month€
Take-home payOECD Taxing Wages 2025, single, no children. Includes central and local income tax and employee social contributions; euro amounts at the ECB average for 2026-08.€2,773
Rentaverage rent of a whole dwelling · official · ACS 2020-2024 5-year table-based Summary File, tables B25065 (Aggregate Gross Rent) and B25063 (Gross Rent, units with cash rent) · 2020-12-31− €1,412
Internet€60 · official · Verizon 300 Mbps home internet · 2026-09-30− €60
Mobile plan€22 · official · Visible unlimited mobile plan · 2026-09-30− €22
Other everyday billsnot published for this city: public transport pass, utilities—
Left overbefore the bills this city does not publish€1,279
Take-home pay for other salaries and households Compare with another city Check a job offer in Helena Salary needed to live in Helena

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Helena. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

American Job Centers — Public employment service

U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration

Job Search
Open official service
Open the United States service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Helena. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Residents with high school education or higher97.51 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official
Schools89 schools30 Jun 2026NCES CCD public school count16Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · school district
School enrolment, share of residents30.07 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official

Healthcare

MetricValuePeriodSource
Mental health provider ratio19 ratio30 Jun 2026HRSA mental health provider ratio15Official
Primary care doctors per 100,000 residents701 per 100,000 people30 Jun 2026HRSA mental health provider ratio15Official
Preventable hospitalizations2,771 per 100,000 people30 Jun 2026HRSA mental health provider ratio15Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Helena when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Safety

Recorded crime across major citiesHelena highlighted among comparable cities
Recorded crime across major cities with Helena highlighted

recorded incidents per 100k residents

Philadelphia5,457
Houston5,442
San Antonio5,218
Chicago4,012
Dallas4,010
Austin3,709
Fort Worth3,158
Phoenix3,125
Helena3,096
New York City3,039
Los Angeles2,212
San Diego2,082
MetricValuePeriodSource
Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents507.3 offences per 100,000country median 1,58631 Dec 2024FBI Crime Data Explorer / Uniform Crime Reporting14Official
Recorded violent crimes16 offenses/year31 Dec 2025FBI CIUS Table 8 by City 2025 (CDE offenses-known-to-le-2025.zip)13Official

Mobility and administration

MetricValuePeriodSource
Average commute time30.71 minutes4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Workers commuting by bicycle0 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Workers commuting by public transport0 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Workers walking to work0.39 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Destinations from nearest airport20 count3 Aug 2026OpenFlights21Official
Nearest airportBHM3 Aug 2026OurAirports22Official
Distance to nearest airport31 km3 Aug 2026OurAirports22Official

Language courses and integration

No exact city-level course record is currently published for Helena. These verified national programmes may still apply; use the official programme page to check local availability.

Country-level information

Adult Education and English Language Acquisition (AEFLA) — State Language Course

U.S. Department of Education

For adult learners, adult English-language learners.

EnglishIn Person, Online, HybridCost varies
Open official information

USCIS English and citizenship class finder — Civic Orientation

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

For immigrants, future citizens.

EnglishIn Person, OnlineCost varies
Open official information
Open the full United States section
National programme information is not treated as proof of a course location in Helena.

Find courses near Helena

Climate and air quality

Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in United StatesAnnual PM2.5 in Helena is 9.0 µg/m³. Of 968 cities with data, 261 have annual PM2.5 of 6 to under 7 µg/m³.

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
PM2.5 — annual mean8.99 µg/m³country median 7.031 Dec 2024EPA AQS annual PM2.5 monitor data 202411Official
Average daytime high by monthJan 13.17 · Feb 15.83 · Mar 19.94 · Apr 24.11 · May 28.06 · Jun 31.28 · Jul 32.83 · Aug 32.67 · Sep 30.06 · Oct 24.61 · Nov 18.89 · Dec 14.44 °C1991–2020NOAA U.S. Monthly Climate Normals 1991-2020 — station USW00053864 (ALABASTER SHELBY CO AP ASOS)20Official · nearest-station reading
Average night-time low by monthJan 1 · Feb 2.78 · Mar 6.28 · Apr 10.06 · May 15.22 · Jun 19.28 · Jul 21.39 · Aug 20.89 · Sep 17.67 · Oct 11.44 · Nov 5.28 · Dec 2.61 °C1991–2020NOAA U.S. Monthly Climate Normals 1991-2020 — station USC00010764 (BESSEMER 3 WSW)19Official · nearest-station reading
Average temperature by monthJan 7.06 · Feb 9.44 · Mar 13.61 · Apr 17.56 · May 22.17 · Jun 25.94 · Jul 27.61 · Aug 27.28 · Sep 24.33 · Oct 17.94 · Nov 11.83 · Dec 8.28 °C31 Dec 1991NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information18Official
Average precipitation by monthJan 137.2 · Feb 136.7 · Mar 137.7 · Apr 129.8 · May 115.6 · Jun 115.1 · Jul 120.9 · Aug 101.1 · Sep 87.63 · Oct 82.8 · Nov 113 · Dec 132.1 mm1991–2020NOAA U.S. Monthly Climate Normals 1991-2020 — station USC00010764 (BESSEMER 3 WSW)19Official · nearest-station reading
PM2.5, highest monitored reading37 µg/m³1 Jul 2026EPA AirData PM2.5 annual mean10Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · county
PM2.5, annual mean9.64 µg/m³1 Jul 2026EPA AirData PM2.5 annual mean10Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · county
PM2.5 monitoring sites8 monitors1 Jul 2026EPA AirData PM2.5 annual mean10Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · county
Annual precipitation1,173 mm30 Jun 2026NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals17Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · station observation
Maximum July temperature27.62 °C30 Jun 2026NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals17Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · station observation
Average annual temperature18.74 °C30 Jun 2026NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals17Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · station observation
Minimum January temperature10.67 °C30 Jun 2026NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals17Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · station observation

Similar climate. In United States: Little Rock ±1.2 °C. Elsewhere: Reims (France) ±6.6 °C, Saanich (Canada) ±6.8 °C, Werl (Germany) ±7.0 °C, Bremerhaven (Germany) ±7.3 °C, Barakaldo (Spain) ±3.8 °C. Twenty closest, compared month by month

Monthly highs and lows against the 1991–2020 station normals of the nearest station; ± is the average monthly difference.

Population and city profile

Foreign residents and their share come from different publications that count different groups (for example citizens of another country, or people born abroad, or of foreign origin), so 1,087 is not 1.7% of the population. Each row names its source.

Who lives hereResidents by nationality, % of population

Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Foreign-resident share1.69 %31 Dec 2020Census Reporter (underlying U.S. Census ACS)8Official
Foreign residents1,087 people31 Dec 2024Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables29Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Population density404.5 people/km²31 Dec 2025Census Reporter / U.S. Census Bureau9Official
Population23,388 people31 Dec 2025U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program24Official
Population covered by crime statistics22,486 people31 Dec 2025FBI CIUS Table 8 by City 2025 (CDE offenses-known-to-le-2025.zip)13Official

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Median home value330,700 USD4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official
Owner-occupied homes91.11 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official
Labour force participation rate71.08 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Residents born abroad4.99 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Naturalized citizens, share of residents3.31 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Non-citizens, share of residents1.69 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Flu vaccination coverage59.54 %30 Jun 2026CDC BRFSS flu vaccination coverage6Official
Mammography screening coverage79.9 %30 Jun 2026CDC mammography screening rate7Official
Residents without health insurance4.77 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official
Residents with a bachelor's degree or higher51.42 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official
Crime reporting agencies1 agencies30 Jun 2026FBI CDE/UCR crime statistics12Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context · agency service area
Households with a vehicle available99.63 %4 Jul 2026ACS median gross rent4Official
Public transport agencies in the National Transit Database0 agencies4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Workers aged 16 and over11,529 workers4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Workers mainly working from home19.54 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official
Households using cellular data plans94.61 %4 Jul 2026ACS total population5Official

Alternatives for people set on Helena

Three places for the three reasons people leave a city on the shortlist: stay in the region, stay in the country, or keep the budget and change the country. A percentage appears only where both cities publish that metric from the same source, period and grain. Distances are straight lines — travel times are not collected yet.

Holly Springs as a Helena alternative in the same country

A move, not a commute, at 782 km, better on 4 of 6 metrics measured the same way, worse on 1. Recorded crime, per 100k cannot be compared like for like.

  • Foreign residents: 4.9% Holly Springs vs 1.7% Helena+188%
  • Unemployment: 3.4% Holly Springs vs 2.0% Helena+72%
  • Residents: 50,288 Holly Springs vs 23,388 Helena+115%
  • Median gross pay, city: €5,042 Holly Springs vs €4,400 Helena+15%
  • Recorded crime, per 100k: 1,110 (2023) Holly Springs vs 507 (2024) Helenano percentage
  • Median gross pay, region: €3,842 Holly Springs vs €3,530 Helena+9%
  • Annual PM2.5: 7.6 µg/m³ Holly Springs vs 9.0 µg/m³ Helena−16%
Full comparisonMore about Holly Springs

Cities near Helena

Published cities within 25 km, nearest first. Distances are straight-line.

Meadowbrook 20.6 km away
Rent
1,261 EUR/monthMedian monthly rent · 2020-12-31
Salary
5,064 EUR/monthMedian gross salary · 2020-12-31

Alternative cities in United States

Other cities in United States to compare with Helena, nearest in population first.

All United States cities
White Bear Lake23,392 residentsKankakee23,400 residentsWest Springfield23,369 residentsHighland23,409 residentsChester23,414 residentsWilmington23,349 residents

How does Helena compare?

Pick a city. The answer appears here and the address bar keeps it, so the comparison can be shared; the page stays Helena's.

Open the full comparison

Is Helena part of Birmingham?

Helena is in the published commuting zone of Birmingham; this does not mean it is administratively part of the hub. Birmingham city profile

Relationship type: Commuting Zone Of. Source23

Put Helena's key facts on your site — a card with this page's figures and a link back, free under CC BY 4.0.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

What is the typical salary around Helena?

The median gross salary is 3,530 EUR/month. Source: www.bls.gov.

What is the unemployment rate in Helena?

The unemployment rate is 1.97 %. This is a supplemental estimate, not an official municipal measurement. Source: Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables.

Is the air quality good in Helena?

The annual PM2.5 mean is 8.99 µg/m³. The WHO 2021 guideline is 5 µg/m³ and the EU limit value is 25 µg/m³, so this reading is above the WHO guideline but within the EU limit. Source: EPA AQS annual PM2.5 monitor data 2024.

How safe is Helena?

Police recorded 507.3 offences per 100,000. This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer / Uniform Crime Reporting.

How many people live in Helena?

The published population is 23,388 people. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program.

How many foreign residents live in Helena?

1,087 residents hold a foreign nationality. This is a supplemental estimate, not an official municipal measurement. Source: Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables.

Is Helena a good place to live?

Helena may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

Is Helena part of Birmingham?

Helena is in the published commuting zone of Birmingham; this does not mean it is administratively part of the hub.

Which cities are near Helena?

Alabaster, Pelham, Hoover, Bessemer, Vestavia Hills are near Helena. Typed relationship labels are shown where published; other rows use straight-line distance from admitted coordinates.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, October 16). Helena (Alabama), United States: population, rent, salary [ImmigrationDB compilation; version c0359f50d0280b6e28c5c924d4480499]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/us/helena-al/ Retrieved 2026-10-16. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_helena-alabama-united-states-population-rent-salary_189a219055a4,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Helena (Alabama), United States: population, rent, salary},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-10-16},
  version = {c0359f50d0280b6e28c5c924d4480499},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/us/helena-al/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-10-16. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Helena (Alabama), United States: population, rent, salary](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/us/helena-al/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version c0359f50d0280b6e28c5c924d4480499; retrieved 2026-10-16; built 2026-10-16.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. 2024 American Community Survey 5-year detailed tables api.census.gov · checked 2026-10-04
  2. ACS 2020-2024 5-year table-based Summary File, table B25064 (Median Gross Rent), place records www2.census.gov · checked 2026-09-18
  3. ACS 2020-2024 5-year table-based Summary File, tables B25065 (Aggregate Gross Rent) and B25063 (Gross Rent, units with cash rent) www2.census.gov · checked 2026-09-19
  4. ACS median gross rent api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-07-04
  5. ACS total population api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-07-04
  6. CDC BRFSS flu vaccination coverage data.cdc.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  7. CDC mammography screening rate data.cdc.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  8. Census Reporter (underlying U.S. Census ACS) api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-08-03
  9. Census Reporter / U.S. Census Bureau api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-08-03
  10. EPA AirData PM2.5 annual mean aqs.epa.gov · checked 2026-07-01
Show 28 more sources
  1. EPA AQS annual PM2.5 monitor data 2024 aqs.epa.gov · checked 2026-07-26
  2. FBI CDE/UCR crime statistics cde.ucr.cjis.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  3. FBI CIUS Table 8 by City 2025 (CDE offenses-known-to-le-2025.zip) cde.ucr.cjis.gov · checked 2026-09-05
  4. FBI Crime Data Explorer / Uniform Crime Reporting cde.ucr.cjis.gov · checked 2026-08-04
  5. HRSA mental health provider ratio data.hrsa.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  6. NCES CCD public school count nces.ed.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  7. NOAA GHCN-Daily climate normals ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-06-30
  8. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  9. NOAA U.S. Monthly Climate Normals 1991-2020 — station USC00010764 (BESSEMER 3 WSW) NOAA U.S. Monthly Climate Normals 1991-2020 · ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-31
  10. NOAA U.S. Monthly Climate Normals 1991-2020 — station USW00053864 (ALABASTER SHELBY CO AP ASOS) NOAA U.S. Monthly Climate Normals 1991-2020 · ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-31
  11. OpenFlights raw.githubusercontent.com · checked 2026-08-03
  12. OurAirports davidmegginson.github.io · checked 2026-08-03
  13. TIGERweb ACS2023 — Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas (CBSA, January 1 2023) TIGERweb ACS2023 · tigerweb.geo.census.gov · checked 2026-09-19
  14. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program www2.census.gov · checked 2026-08-03
  15. Verizon 300 Mbps home internet verizon.com · checked 2026-09-15
  16. Visible unlimited mobile plan visible.com · checked 2026-09-15
  17. www.bls.gov bls.gov · checked 2026-08-27
  18. Census Reporter ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B20002 (underlying U.S. Census Bureau ACS) api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-09-11
  19. Census Reporter mirror of ACS 2024 5-year tables api.censusreporter.org · checked 2026-07-26
  20. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  21. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  22. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  23. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  24. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  25. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  26. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  27. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06
  28. Coordinate identity evidence wikidata.org · checked 2026-09-06

Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.