City · Georgia
McRae-Helena, Georgia
McRae-Helena, city, in Telfair County, Georgia. McRae-Helena had 5,443 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 18.1% from the Bureau's April 2020 estimates base of 6,649; the 2020 Census counted 6,253 on the place as it was defined then and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,030 (±29). GEOID 1349100.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,443
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,253 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,030 ±29
Median household income
$43,618
±$26,092 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$113,500
±$64,170 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$713
±$140 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
Where is McRae-Helena and what county is it in?
McRae-Helena is a city in Telfair County, Georgia. It covers 6.4 square miles of land, 972 residents per square mile in 2020.
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telfair County | 6,253 | 100.0% |
| Wheeler County | land only, no residents | – |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in McRae-Helena, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,443 people lived in McRae-Helena on July 1, 2025, down 18.1% since 2020, while Georgia grew 5.5%. The Census Bureau's yearly estimates start from its own April 2020 base for McRae-Helena, 6,649, which differs from the 2020 Census count of 6,253: the estimates follow the place as the estimates program defines it today (its present boundaries, and for a consolidated city-county the area the program assigns it), so the change since 2020 is measured from that base. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,030 (±29).
| Measure | McRae-Helena | Telfair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,030 ±29 | 11,831 | −2,379 |
| Households | 1,577 ±182 | 3,351 | −412 |
| Average household size | 2.53 ±0.24 | 2.87 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,947 ±195 | 4,705 | −860 |
McRae-Helena's population since 2015
From 8,799 in 2015 to 5,443 in 2025: down 38.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for McRae-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 McRae-Helena?
The median resident of McRae-Helena is 41.3 years old; 15.5% are under 18 and 18.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 46.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 45.2%.
| Measure | McRae-Helena | Telfair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 ±2.9 | 43.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 15.5% ±2.4 pts | 16.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.5% ±2.9 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Male | 61.1% ±3.4 pts | 54.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.2% ±3.8 pts | 15.0% | −14.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 46.6% ±4.8 pts | 48.3% | +14.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 45.2% ±4.6 pts | 35.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±1.0 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.1% ±1.8 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.7% ±2.7 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8% ±2.5 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 23.6% ±5.4 pts | 19.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 18.7% ±5.3 pts | 20.7% | +8.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 79.8% ±3.8 pts | 77.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 8.0% ±3.4 pts | 10.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.0% ±2.1 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.1% ±3.4 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
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 McRae-Helena earn?
Half of McRae-Helena's 1,577 households earn less than $43,618 a year (±$26,092), against $50,929 in Telfair County and $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 it was $34,650 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 31.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | McRae-Helena | Telfair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,618 ±$26,092 | $50,929 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $53,936 ±$10,494 | $63,431 | – |
| Per capita income | $15,215 ±$2,887 | $20,994 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 31.5% ±10.2 pts | 24.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 39.7% ±19.4 pts | 32.2% | −35.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 35.8% ±9.7 pts | 27.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 83.4% ±7.9 pts | 85.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 73.3% ±9.1 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 McRae-Helena?
Owners occupy 54.7% of McRae-Helena's occupied homes and renters 45.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $113,500 by its owner (±$64,170). The median renter pays $713 a month including utilities, and 47.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | McRae-Helena | Telfair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $113,500 ±$64,170 | $113,300 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $713 ±$140 | $712 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.2% ±17.6 pts | 45.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,473 ±$388 | $1,519 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.7% ±10.3 pts | 64.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 45.3% ±10.3 pts | 35.1% | – |
| Housing units | 1,947 ±195 | 4,705 | −860 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.2% ±8.8 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 62.3% ±7.5 pts | 61.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% ±5.5 pts | 25.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±2.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.3% ±3.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.2% ±3.6 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 23.5% ±8.9 pts | 14.1% | – |
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 McRae-Helena building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in McRae-Helena in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 5.4 across Georgia.
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 McRae-Helena work and get to work?
89.6% of McRae-Helena's workers drive alone and 6.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.0 minutes.
| Measure | McRae-Helena | Telfair County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 29.2% ±6.4 pts | 35.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.8% ±3.0 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 89.6% ±5.1 pts | 88.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.2% ±3.5 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.2% ±3.9 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.0 min ±6.7 | 27.2 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 McRae-Helena?
3 census tracts lie mostly in McRae-Helena, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $45,721 (Tract 9501.01) to $48,681 (Tract 9501.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9501.02Telfair County | 2,355 | $48,681 |
| Tract 9501.01Telfair County | 3,225 | $45,721 |
| Tract 9501.03Telfair County | 1,896 | $55,833 |
| Tract 7802Wheeler County | 4,918 | $31,651 |
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 McRae-Helena) · Census block assignment files
How does McRae-Helena compare with other places in Georgia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, McRae-Helena is the 4,667th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 138th-most populous of 537 in Georgia.
McRae-Helena ranks 278th of 348 places in Georgia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 138th | 537 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 296th | 297 |
| Residents per square mile | 154th | 360 |
| Median household income | 278th | 348 |
| Per capita income | 348th | 357 |
| Median home value | 294th | 346 |
| Median gross rent | 298th | 337 |
| Poverty rate | 43rd | 302 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 321st | 343 |
| Median age | 80th | 360 |
| Owner-occupied share | 226th | 354 |
| Work from home | 173rd | 198 |
| Travel time to work | 289th | 359 |
McRae-Helena's figures with every place in Georgia (CSV)
Every place in Georgia, sortable · Compare McRae-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 McRae-Helena?
14 of the 57 figures for McRae-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 McRae-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 McRae-Helena.