Town · Oklahoma
Helena, Oklahoma
Helena, town, in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. Helena had 1,527 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,537 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,557 (±94). GEOID 4033450.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,527
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,537 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,557 ±94
Median household income
$61,500
±$13,974 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $65,039
Median home value
$66,700
±$34,074 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $199,800
Median gross rent
not published
Oklahoma: $1,014
Where is Helena and what county is it in?
Helena is a town in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. It covers 0.4 square miles of land, 3,767 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, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,527 people lived in Helena on July 1, 2025, down 0.3% since 2020, while Oklahoma grew 4.1%. The 2020 Census counted 1,537 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,557 (±94).
| Measure | Helena | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,557 ±94 | 5,696 | no clear change |
| Households | 136 ±34 | 1,938 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.51 ±0.47 | 2.30 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 165 ±39 | 2,466 | −55 |
Helena's population since 2000
From 443 in 2000 to 1,527 in 2025: up 244.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for 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?
The median resident of Helena is 48.1 years old; 3.7% are under 18 and 17.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 55.6%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 15.0%.
| Measure | Helena | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 ±2.5 | 44.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 3.7% ±1.5 pts | 18.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.0% ±3.9 pts | 20.5% | – |
| Male | 89.5% ±2.2 pts | 64.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.9% ±4.4 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 55.6% ±7.1 pts | 80.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 13.0% ±4.7 pts | 3.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 7.1% ±3.6 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 15.0% ±3.3 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.4% ±1.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.4% ±3.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.5% ±2.8 pts | 9.2% | – |
| With a disability | 38.3% ±10.1 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.0% ±5.3 pts | 10.5% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 75.7% ±6.3 pts | 85.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 3.7% ±1.7 pts | 20.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.3% ±1.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 77.7% ±7.0 pts | 85.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
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 earn?
Half of Helena's 136 households earn less than $61,500 a year (±$13,974), against $64,615 in Alfalfa County and $65,039 in Oklahoma. In 2015-2019 the median was $90,282 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $28,782 after inflation.
| Measure | Helena | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,500 ±$13,974 | $64,615 | −$28,782 |
| Mean household income | $67,370 ±$13,001 | $81,845 | – |
| Per capita income | $14,870 ±$4,527 | $30,402 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.0% ±8.1 pts | 16.5% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 19.3% ±16.4 pts | 28.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.3% ±8.1 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.1% ±3.2 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.9% ±5.8 pts | 87.6% | – |
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?
Owners occupy 85.3% of Helena's occupied homes and renters 14.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $66,700 by its owner (±$34,074).
| Measure | Helena | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $66,700 ±$34,074 | $101,500 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 57.1% ±38.9 pts | 29.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $967 ±$187 | $1,133 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.3% ±8.3 pts | 77.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 14.7% ±8.3 pts | 22.5% | – |
| Housing units | 165 ±39 | 2,466 | −55 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 7.3% ±7.4 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 28.6% ±35.4 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 80.0% ±11.4 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.6% ±1.1 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±14.0 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±14.0 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 35.2% ±11.1 pts | 33.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.7% ±1.7 pts | 1.8% | – |
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 do people in Helena work and get to work?
56.5% of Helena's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 26.3 minutes.
| Measure | Helena | Alfalfa County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 8.4% ±2.1 pts | 44.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.7% ±9.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 56.5% ±15.3 pts | 82.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 18.3% ±10.8 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.7% ±2.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 20.0% ±13.2 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 0.9% ±1.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.3 min ±8.2 | 22.1 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?
No census tract lies mostly in Helena; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9560Alfalfa County | 2,963 | $68,542 |
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) · Census block assignment files
How does Helena compare with other places in Oklahoma?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Helena is the 8,668th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 162nd-most populous of 591 in Oklahoma.
Helena ranks 67th of 228 places in Oklahoma with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 162nd | 591 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 154th | 212 |
| Residents per square mile | 2nd | 229 |
| Median household income | 67th | 228 |
| Per capita income | 227th | 229 |
| Median home value | 220th | 228 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 226th | 226 |
| Median age | 12th | 229 |
| Owner-occupied share | 19th | 229 |
| Travel time to work | 48th | 229 |
Helena's figures with every place in Oklahoma (CSV)
Every place in Oklahoma, sortable · Compare 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?
21 of the 56 figures for 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 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.