City · Arkansas
Helena-West Helena, Arkansas
Helena-West Helena, city, in Phillips County, Arkansas. Helena-West Helena had 8,216 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 13.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 9,519 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 8,935 (±26). GEOID 0531190.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,216
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 9,519 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,935 ±26
Median household income
$36,019
±$7,469 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $60,773
Median home value
$73,200
±$17,957 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $188,000
Median gross rent
$771
±$95 (90% margin)
Arkansas: $947
Where is Helena-West Helena and what county is it in?
Helena-West Helena is a city in Phillips County, Arkansas. It covers 13.1 square miles of land, 726 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Helena-West Helena, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 8,216 people lived in Helena-West Helena on July 1, 2025, down 13.8% since 2020, while Arkansas grew 3.4%. The 2020 Census counted 9,519 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 8,935 (±26).
| Measure | Helena-West Helena | Phillips County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,935 ±26 | 15,450 | −1,814 |
| Households | 3,440 ±216 | 6,023 | −751 |
| Average household size | 2.54 ±0.16 | 2.53 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,022 ±226 | 8,355 | −835 |
Helena-West Helena's population since 2005
From 13,548 in 2005 to 8,216 in 2025: down 39.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Helena-West Helena as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Helena-West Helena?
The median resident of Helena-West Helena is 39.3 years old; 28.0% are under 18 and 18.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 71.9%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 20.2%.
| Measure | Helena-West Helena | Phillips County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 ±3.1 | 40.9 | +4.2 |
| Under 18 years | 28.0% ±2.5 pts | 26.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.2% ±2.1 pts | 20.7% | – |
| Male | 45.7% ±2.1 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.7% ±0.7 pts | 2.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 20.2% ±3.7 pts | 32.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 71.9% ±5.0 pts | 60.2% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±2.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±1.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.2% ±2.0 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.6% ±2.1 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.6% ±1.8 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 26.8% ±4.7 pts | 24.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.4% ±3.0 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.2% ±4.4 pts | 80.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.3% ±4.3 pts | 15.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.5% ±2.0 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 82.8% ±5.2 pts | 85.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2% ±1.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Helena-West Helena earn?
Half of Helena-West Helena's 3,440 households earn less than $36,019 a year (±$7,469), against $40,134 in Phillips County and $60,773 in Arkansas. In 2015-2019 the median was $27,293 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $8,726 after inflation. 31.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Helena-West Helena | Phillips County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $36,019 ±$7,469 | $40,134 | +$8,726 |
| Mean household income | $45,904 ±$4,747 | $54,873 | – |
| Per capita income | $18,871 ±$1,811 | $22,343 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 31.7% ±5.5 pts | 29.3% | −13.5 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 38.7% ±11.3 pts | 38.5% | −33.0 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 38.3% ±5.9 pts | 32.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 82.2% ±6.5 pts | 84.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.5% ±6.0 pts | 79.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Helena-West Helena?
Owners occupy 42.0% of Helena-West Helena's occupied homes and renters 58.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $73,200 by its owner (±$17,957). The median renter pays $771 a month including utilities, and 56.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Helena-West Helena | Phillips County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $73,200 ±$17,957 | $78,200 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $771 ±$95 | $737 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 56.0% ±11.3 pts | 52.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,218 ±$162 | $1,156 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 42.0% ±6.0 pts | 51.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 58.0% ±6.0 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Housing units | 5,022 ±226 | 8,355 | −835 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 13.4% ±5.8 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3% ±2.9 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.8% ±4.4 pts | 70.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.9% ±0.8 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.8% ±0.5 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.0% ±2.5 pts | 9.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 21.0% ±4.4 pts | 17.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Helena-West Helena building?
Builders took permits for 3 new housing units in Helena-West Helena in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.4 per 1,000 residents against 5.0 across Arkansas.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Helena-West Helena work and get to work?
69.4% of Helena-West Helena's workers drive alone and 3.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 17.7%.
| Measure | Helena-West Helena | Phillips County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 48.8% ±5.0 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 17.7% ±7.4 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.4% ±9.3 pts | 75.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.3% ±8.2 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.4% ±1.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Walked | 3.7% ±3.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.6% ±2.2 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.3 min ±4.3 | 19.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Helena-West Helena?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Helena-West Helena (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $23,043 (Tract 4804) to $54,583 (Tract 4801).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 4803Phillips County | 4,402 | $37,865 |
| Tract 4801Phillips County | 2,392 | $54,583 |
| Tract 4805Phillips County | 1,756 | $30,685 |
| Tract 4804Phillips County | 1,571 | $23,043 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Helena-West Helena) · Census block assignment files
How does Helena-West Helena compare with other places in Arkansas?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Helena-West Helena is the 3,681st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 47th-most populous of 500 in Arkansas.
Helena-West Helena ranks 174th of 194 places in Arkansas with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 47th | 500 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 182nd | 182 |
| Residents per square mile | 93rd | 197 |
| Median household income | 174th | 194 |
| Per capita income | 188th | 197 |
| Median home value | 186th | 193 |
| Median gross rent | 112th | 186 |
| Poverty rate | 11th | 172 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 119th | 189 |
| Median age | 73rd | 196 |
| Owner-occupied share | 189th | 197 |
| Work from home | 74th | 76 |
| Travel time to work | 127th | 197 |
Helena-West Helena's figures with every place in Arkansas (CSV)
Every place in Arkansas, sortable · Compare Helena-West Helena with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Helena-West Helena?
12 of the 57 figures for Helena-West Helena on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Helena-West Helena are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Helena-West Helena.