Housing Value★★★★★★★★★★4.0 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Living in Helena, AL
Explore Helena and see how it fits the life you want to build.
Overall Match8.6 / 10
Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.
Helena at a Glance
Key facts and current data
Population21,769
Median Household Income$115,139
Median Home Value$330,700
Median Gross Rent$1,574
Median Age37.8
Average Household Size2.9
Unemployment2.0%
Work From Home19.5%
Homeownership91.1%
Housing Vacancy5.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.
Helena is a smaller community, so land use, housing supply and its relationship with surrounding communities can be especially important to movers. Home values are relatively modest compared with local household income, giving the area a comparatively favorable ownership-affordability signal. Unemployment is relatively low, which is a positive current labor-market signal.
Experience the Area
Experience Life in Helena Before You Move
Explore Short-Term Stays in Helena →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate
NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Helena and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.
NarrowTheList Ratings
Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.
Housing & Cost of Living in Helena
Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau
Median Home Value$330,700
Median Gross Rent$1,574
Homeownership91.1%
Housing Vacancy5.9%
Home values are comparatively balanced against local household income, although individual neighborhoods can still vary substantially. A large majority of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Jobs, Income & Remote Work
Employment and household-income context for Helena, AL
Median Household Income$115,139
Unemployment2.0%
Work From Home19.5%
The reported unemployment rate is relatively low. Working from home is relatively common among employed residents.
Population & Household Profile
Who lives in Helena and how households are structured
Population21,769
Median Age37.8
Average Household Size2.9
Helena is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.
Climate & Weather in Helena
Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context
NOAA climate normals for Helena point to hot summers, cool winters, substantial annual rainfall and occasional snowfall.
Average Summer High92.2°F
Average Winter Low34.6°F
Annual Rainfall55.6 in.
Annual Snowfall1.2 in.
Seasonal Life in Helena
What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.
Spring
Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.
Summer
Summer heat is a meaningful part of daily life. During a trial stay, pay attention to afternoon comfort, cooling use, vehicle heat and how much outdoor activity shifts toward mornings and evenings.
Fall
Fall marks a substantial seasonal transition here. It is a useful time to judge how quickly temperatures change and whether that seasonal swing fits the lifestyle you want.
Winter
Winter is generally cool with limited snowfall. Heating needs still matter, but snow-related disruption should be less central than in colder markets.
Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.
County Intelligence
Helena & Its Counties
Data Pending
Foreclosure Activity
Helena spans Jefferson and Shelby counties.
Living in a community that crosses county lines can make location within Helena especially important. Property taxes, housing characteristics, public services and other county-level factors may vary depending on which part of the community you call home.
Current NarrowTheList data for Helena shows a population of about 21,769. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.
Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.
For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.
County relationship
Jefferson County and Shelby County
How NarrowTheList uses it
NarrowTheList connects Helena with all 2 of its counties rather than assigning the community to only one. As additional county data becomes available, those differences can be compared alongside city-level information to help identify which parts of the area may better fit your priorities.
For someone considering a move to Helena, the available data currently points to comparatively attainable ownership costs relative to local income and a relatively tight labor market. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.