HelenaMS
With 975 residents, this town was settled in 1910.
Is Helena a good place to live?
11% of residents are under 18 in Helena, where Mississippi’s towns sit at 24% and U.S. towns at 22%. No town among the 102 in Mississippi we compare has a higher midpoint age than Helena. Helena has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Helena has shrunk 17% from 2010 to 2020
1,184 counted in 2010 and 983 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Helena.
The FEMA risk score in Helena is higher than in most of Mississippi or the rest of the country
Households in Helena have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2005. Expected losses in Helena break down as 51% from hurricanes and 35% from inland flooding.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Fewer of Helena’s working residents work locally than in the typical Mississippi or U.S. town
One in ten residents live below the poverty line in Helena. Only 3 of the 100 Mississippi towns we compare have a higher middle household income than Helena. For Helena, the average commute is 28 minutes. The top destinations are Pascagoula (31%), Moss Point (12%) and Biloxi (6%).
| Helena | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.8% | 19% | 8% |
| Median household income | $102,000 | $50,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 10% | 21% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Mild winters and hot summers in Helena
July afternoons reach 91°, January nights drop to 41° and snow is almost unheard of.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Helena is
CDC measures, 31 in all: Helena beats Mississippi on 2 and trails on 6. The share of adults in Helena who have high blood pressure: 48%. Only 5 of the 102 Mississippi towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Helena. Among adults here, 18% report frequent physical distress and 17% have diabetes.
| Helena | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 45% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 16% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 36% | 25% |
| What stands out | Helena | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 14.2% | 18.5% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 9.2% | 11.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.8% | 8.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Homes in Helena sell for about $100K
Only 4 of the 100 Mississippi towns we compare have a higher owner-occupancy rate than Helena.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Everything we know about Helena
Moving to Helena: who provides what
Helena is unincorporated, so Jackson County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
975 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Helena; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Helena residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Mississippi.
Questions about Helena
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Helena, MS a good place to live?
Helena has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Say something about Helena.
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