City profile · Oklahoma · Census ACS 2023

Helena, OK

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

1,487
Residents
$64,286
Median income
$80,500
Median home
$937
Median rent (state)

Helena - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Helena places in the 42nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

42nd
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
9th
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: Helena, OK

Oklahoma's Helena is a small town, with 1,487 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Helena households earn a median of $64,286 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.8%. Typical homes in Helena are valued around $80,500, and the median resident age is 47.2 years. Educational attainment runs 3.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 8.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 58.8°F with 32.1 inches of precipitation per year and 12.7 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Oklahoma run below the national norm: the state registers 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $937 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Oklahoma's average monthly utility costs around $205 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 40.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

1,487 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Oklahoma

Median Household Income

$64,286 /yr

Poverty 13.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Oklahoma average

How does Helena compare to other US cities?

Here's how Helena stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 42% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 9% 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

Each percentile compares Helena against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Oklahoma only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Oklahoma-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Helena near the bottom of Oklahoma's cities

Among the 671 Oklahoma cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Helena ranks #324 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Helena only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#168 of 639
74th percentile in Oklahoma
Median Gross Rent
#324 of 671
0th percentile in Oklahoma
Median Home Value
#462 of 628
26th percentile in Oklahoma
Poverty Rate
#300 of 671
55th percentile in Oklahoma
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#634 of 671
5th percentile in Oklahoma

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Oklahoma only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

42ndIncome percentile

42nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Helena's home value compares nationally

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

$80,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 $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, OK Helena, OK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Helena, OK-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, OK median $64,286/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, OK'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, OK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 3.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 8.4%

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

Population
1,487
Median Income
$64,286
Median Home Value
$80,500
Median Age
47.2
Poverty Rate
13.8%
Labor force participation
8.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
3.8%

Climate

Avg Temperature
58.8°F
Annual Precipitation
32.1"
Annual Snowfall
12.7"

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,526 residents1,528 residents1,530 residents1,532 residents1,534 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,532 residents 1,527 residents ▼ -0.3%
Helena's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
60.5%
Carpool
15.1%
Public Transit
1.7%
Walk
19.3%
Work from Home
0.8%
Other
2.6%

Based on 119 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$205
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$937/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
40.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Oklahoma

Cleora
1,449 people
Locust Grove
1,445 people
Luther
1,443 people
Minco
1,540 people
Panama
1,432 people
Kenwood
1,431 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Helena's 1,487 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Waldoboro, ME
1,487 people
Quincy, MI
1,487 people
Lone Jack, MO
1,487 people
Kenton, TN
1,487 people
Keshena, WI
1,487 people
Diablo Grande, CA
1,488 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Helena's $64,286 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Maxwell, CA
$64,286 median income
Discovery Harbour, HI
$64,286 median income
Cornell, IL
$64,286 median income
Onarga, IL
$64,286 median income
New Lebanon, OH
$64,286 median income
Gray Court, SC
$64,286 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Helena, OK 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, OK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 57.0% 13.0% 9.7% 16.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.6% White 57.0% Black or African American 13.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 9.7% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 3.2% Two or more races 16.8% 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 compares to nearby Oklahoma 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 (this city) 1,487 $64,286
Cleora 1,449 $82,614
Locust Grove 1,445 $44,853
Luther 1,443 $57,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OK NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Helena, OK?

What is the population of Helena, OK? +

Helena, OK counts 1,487 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Helena, OK? +

In Helena, the typical household earns $64,286 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Helena? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Helena; the closest available measure is the Oklahoma state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Oklahoma vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Helena, OK? +

Homes in Helena carry a median value of $80,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Helena? +

Helena has an average annual temperature of 58.8°F, 32.1 inches of precipitation, and 12.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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

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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.