City profile · Georgia · Census ACS 2023

Helen, GA

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

470
Residents
$83,654
Median income
$344,000
Median home
$1,177
Median rent (state)

Helen - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Helen lands in the 65th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

65th
percentile, household income
71st
percentile, home value
35th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Helen, GA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 470 residents in Helen, a small town within Georgia. Helen households earn a median of $83,654 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.1%. Typical homes in Helen are valued around $344,000, and the median resident age is 63.2 years. About 44.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 47.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 8 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 300% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 57.4°F with 72.7 inches of precipitation per year and 1.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Georgia run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Georgia scores 96.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,177 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Georgia, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 45.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

470 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Georgia

Median Household Income

$83,654 /yr

Poverty 6.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Georgia average

How does Helen compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 71% pricier than other cities
Median rent 35% pricier than other cities

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

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 Helen'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 Georgia, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

65thIncome percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Helen's home value compares nationally

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

$344,000 29th percentile more affordable than 29% 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%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Helen $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 - Helen, GA Helen, GA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Helen, GA-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 Helen, GA median $83,654/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%
Helen, GA'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 Helen, GA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 44.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.0%

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

Population
470
Median Income
$83,654
Median Home Value
$344,000
Median Age
63.2
Poverty Rate
6.1%
Labor force participation
47.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
44.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
57.4°F
Annual Precipitation
72.7"
Annual Snowfall
1.5"

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
500 residents550 residents600 residents650 residents 202020212022202320242025 533 residents 631 residents ▲ +18.4%
Helen's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
8
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
17
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 12
2021 43
2022 29
2023 32
2024 8

Permit volume increased 300% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.0%
Carpool
5.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
4.7%
Work from Home
7.1%

Based on 212 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$125
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Georgia 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 Georgia state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Helen sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,177/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
45.7 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Georgia

Arnoldsville
470 people
Fargo
470 people
Lexington
470 people
New England
473 people
Hiltonia
475 people
Sumner
465 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Helen's 470 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Rancho Mesa Verde, AZ
470 people
Red Mesa, AZ
470 people
Michigantown, IN
470 people
Fair Play, MO
470 people
Hornersville, MO
470 people
Dalton, NE
470 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Helen's $83,654 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

South Amherst, OH
$83,654 median income
Germantown, IL
$83,661 median income
Walesboro, IN
$83,663 median income
Kendall, FL
$83,664 median income
The Crossings, FL
$83,643 median income
Herron Island, WA
$83,641 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Helen, GA 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 Helen, GA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.2% White 95.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.0% 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 Helen compares to nearby Georgia cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Helen (this city) 470 $83,654
Arnoldsville 470 $46,964
Fargo 470 $71,105
Lexington 470 $80,000
Census ACS 5-year FIPS GA NOAA Normals Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Helen, GA?

What is the population of Helen, GA? +

470 people live in Helen, GA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Helen, GA? +

Median annual household income in Helen runs $83,654, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Helen? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Helen; the closest available measure is the Georgia state average, a cost of living index of 96.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Georgia vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Helen, GA? +

The median home value in Helen is $344,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Helen? +

Helen has an average annual temperature of 57.4°F, 72.7 inches of precipitation, and 1.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.