Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 631, laid out in 1912.
Helen’s median age is 68.2 years, against 36.5 years in Georgia’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. Of the 265 Georgia towns we compare, none has a lower January low than Helen. 20% of the land in Helen is conserved, against 2.3% in Georgia’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Unicoi State Park, at 126 acres. Helen has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Helen beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 176 in 1920, 531 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1975 and 2 maps from 1957 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Helen, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Helen.
Most working residents leave Helen for work: only 17% work in town. 5.3% of residents live below the poverty line in Helen. Jobs based in Helen grew to 1,188 in 2023, 567 more than in 2013.
| Helen | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 15% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 17% | 9.1% | 8% |
| Median household income | $86,000 | $63,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities. Since 2004, 17 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Helen.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
2.2 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The trail density in Helen is 1.1 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Unicoi State Park | 0.5 mi | 126 |
| 2. Smithgall Woods State Park | 0.3 mi | 36 |
| 3. Hardman Farms State Historic Park | 0.2 mi | 54 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Helen has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Among 265 Georgia towns, just 4 have a lower July high than Helen.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
13 crimes were reported in Helen in 2025: 11 property and 2 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Helen is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
31% of Helen adults feel lonely. Helen beats the Georgia average on 14 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 18% of Helen adults say their health is fair or poor.
| Helen | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 40% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 19% | 17% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 39% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| What stands out | Helen | GA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.3% | 15% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.7% | 9.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.2% | 7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The typical Helen home is worth about $329,000, up 0.8% in a year, close to the Georgia typical home. Helen’s median rent is $773 a month.
| Helen | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 82% | 58% | 73% |
| Median rent | $773 a month | $1,154 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Helen. Close and well known come first.
Big draw35 mi LakeLake Lanier
13 mi MountainBrasstown Bald
23 mi MountainCurrahee Mountain
4 mi WaterfallAnna Ruby Falls
22 mi National forestChattahoochee–Oconee National Forest
38 mi National forestNantahala National ForestLake Lanier: http://www.terraprints.com, CC BY 2.5 · Brasstown Bald: Unknown, Public domain · Currahee Mountain: Wikilackey (talk), Public domain · Anna Ruby Falls: Jsfouche, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Chattahoochee–Oconee National Forest: Thomson200, CC0 · Nantahala National Forest: Sdrtm at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
3 within 15 miles of the center of Helen
About 1 of every 100 Helen residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Georgia.
Where Helen’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Helen has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
