City profile · Arkansas · Census ACS 2023

Helena-West Helena, AR

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Helena-West Helena - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

9,218
Residents
$32,466
Median income
$72,300
Median home
$880
Median rent (state)

Helena-West Helena - the verdict

Helena-West Helena ranks in the 3rd percentile for household income and the 4th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

3rd
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
3rd
percentile, median rent
4th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Helena-West Helena, AR

Helena-West Helena is a small town in Arkansas, home to 9,218 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $32,466 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 32.6%. Helena-West Helena's housing stock carries a median value of $72,300, and the median resident age is 39.4 years. Educational attainment runs 14.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 40.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 16 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 65% from five years earlier. Helena-West Helena's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 5069.0 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Arkansas run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Arkansas at 86.9 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $880 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Arkansas run around $210, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 61.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

9,218 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Arkansas

Median Household Income

$32,466 /yr

Poverty 32.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

86.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Arkansas average

How does Helena-West Helena compare to other US cities?

Where Helena-West Helena sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 3% pricier than other cities
Safety 4% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Arkansas alone, Helena-West Helena ranks #153 of 160 Arkansas cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Helena-West Helena's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Arkansas, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

3rdIncome percentile
4thSafety percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income · 4th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Helena-West Helena's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Helena-West Helena's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Helena-West Helena's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Helena-West Helena's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$72,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Helena-West Helena $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Helena-West Helena, AR Helena-West Helena, AR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Helena-West Helena, AR-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Helena-West Helena, AR median $32,466/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Helena-West Helena, AR's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Helena-West Helena, AR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 32.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 40.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,218
Median Income
$32,466
Median Home Value
$72,300
Median Age
39.4
Poverty Rate
32.6%
Labor force participation
40.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
5069.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1630.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3438.8
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,000 residents8,500 residents9,000 residents9,500 residents10,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,460 residents 8,216 residents ▼ -13.2%
Helena-West Helena's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
16
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 46
2020 51
2021 0
2022 11
2023 0
2024 16

Permit volume decreased 65% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.3%
Carpool
17.5%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
3.5%
Other
3.5%

Based on 2,714 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Arkansas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$210
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Arkansas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Arkansas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Helena-West Helena sits in

Cost of Living Index
86.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$880/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
61.7 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Arkansas

Clarksville
9,500 people
Greenwood
9,570 people
Hope
8,787 people
Beebe
8,580 people
Farmington
8,469 people
Monticello
8,320 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Helena-West Helena's 9,218 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Park Ridge, NJ
9,218 people
Chatham, NJ
9,219 people
Riverside, CT
9,216 people
Ventnor City, NJ
9,220 people
Hooper, UT
9,220 people
Cabo Rojo zona urbana, PR
9,222 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Helena-West Helena's $32,466 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wadley, GA
$32,458 median income
Alfred, ME
$32,476 median income
Hilltown, VA
$32,455 median income
Grimes, AL
$32,500 median income
Flemingsburg, KY
$32,500 median income
Montegut, LA
$32,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Helena-West Helena, AR Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Helena-West Helena, AR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 22.1% 73.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.5% White 22.1% Black or African American 73.5% Asian 1.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.3% Two or more races 2.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Helena-West Helena compares to nearby Arkansas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Helena-West Helena (this city) 9,218 $32,466
Clarksville 9,500 $37,848
Greenwood 9,570 $65,745
Hope 8,787 $44,353
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AR FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Helena-West Helena, AR?

What is the population of Helena-West Helena, AR? +

The population of Helena-West Helena, AR stands at 9,218 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Helena-West Helena, AR? +

Helena-West Helena households earn a median of $32,466 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Helena-West Helena? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Helena-West Helena; the closest available measure is the Arkansas state average, a cost of living index of 86.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Arkansas vary by metro area.

Is Helena-West Helena, AR safe? +

Helena-West Helena has a total crime rate of 5069.0 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Helena-West Helena, AR? +

The median home value in Helena-West Helena is $72,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.