The Town FilesHelena, Alabama
City in Shelby County · population 20,914 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $330,700
- Household income
- $115,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 37.8
Helena is a city of 20,914 people in Shelby County, Alabama. The median home is worth $330,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for families than 98% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 97% of Alabama towns, more of a college town than 95% of Alabama towns.
How Helena ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Helena is worth $330,700, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $115,139, which is more affordable than 50% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,574 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helena | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $330,700 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,574 | $834 |
| Median household income | $115,139 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Helena
| People | Helena | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.4% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.5% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Helena
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 55.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 87 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 51 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 5, 1963 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 22, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 30, 2002.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 21, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4632: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 85,169 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,772 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Helena itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Helena
4 public schools with 4,194 students, about 18.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena High School | 9-12 | 1,419 | 18.2 |
| Helena Middle | 6-8 | 988 | 18.3 |
| Helena Intermediate School | 3-5 | 932 | 20.3 |
| Helena Elementary School | K-2 | 855 | 19.4 |
Towns near Helena
- Alabaster, AL6.1 mi · 33,284 people · home $261,700
- Hoover, AL7.7 mi · 92,606 people · home $412,200
- Bessemer, AL7.7 mi · 26,019 people · home $135,900
- McCalla, AL8.2 mi · 12,965 people · home $279,900
- Pelham, AL8.7 mi · 24,318 people · home $299,800
- Montevallo, AL11.2 mi · 7,229 people · home $220,700
- Hueytown, AL11.4 mi · 16,776 people · home $155,300
- Midfield, AL12.0 mi · 5,211 people · home $107,600
Helena questions
Is Helena, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helena scores better for retirees than 36% of Alabama towns and quieter than 12%. 12.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Helena?
The median owner-occupied home in Helena is valued at $330,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,139, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,574 a month.
What is the weather like in Helena?
July highs average 92.2°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Helena get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 5, 1963. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)