The Town FilesLake Helen, Florida
City in Volusia County · population 2,842 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $441,200
- Household income
- $116,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 42.8
Lake Helen is a city of 2,842 people in Volusia County, Florida. The median home is worth $441,200, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for families than 95% of Florida towns, easier by car than 91% of Florida towns, more of a college town than 90% of Florida towns.
How Lake Helen ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lake Helen is worth $441,200, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $116,250, which is more affordable than 73% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,522 a month. 79.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Helen | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $441,200 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,522 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $116,250 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 79.2% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Lake Helen
| People | Lake Helen | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.3% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 92.4% |
Weather in Lake Helen
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 44.6°F. About 55.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 84 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 7 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Helen since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 2, 2007 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 13. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 58 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 18, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on February 7, 1971.
Severe weather in Volusia County since 1996
Volusia County has been included in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Volusia County
Volusia County had 189,265 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,114 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Lake Helen itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Lake Helen
2 public schools with 1,445 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| IVY HAWN CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (charter) | PK-8 | 946 | 15.5 |
| VOLUSIA PINES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 499 | 14.3 |
Towns near Lake Helen
- DeLand, FL4.3 mi · 37,351 people · home $330,900
- Orange City, FL4.5 mi · 12,632 people · home $259,100
- Deltona, FL5.6 mi · 93,692 people · home $285,400
- West DeLand, FL6.6 mi · 3,908 people · home $273,500
- DeBary, FL9.0 mi · 22,260 people · home $349,700
- Samsula-Spruce Creek, FL11.2 mi · 4,877 people · home $443,500
- De Leon Springs, FL11.7 mi · 2,619 people · home $298,000
- Sanford, FL13.7 mi · 61,051 people · home $309,300
Lake Helen questions
Is Lake Helen, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Helen scores better for retirees than 29% of Florida towns and quieter than 45%. 31.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Lake Helen?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Helen is valued at $441,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,250, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,522 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Helen?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 44.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake Helen get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Helen since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 2, 2007. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- 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)