HelenaSC
A town of 716, settled in 1875.
Is Helena a good place to live?
24% of residents live below the poverty line in Helena, against 17% in South Carolina’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Among 170 South Carolina towns, just 3 have a lower average trip to work than Helena. Helena has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
716 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Helena: who provides what
Helena is unincorporated, so Newberry 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 Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Helena.
With 0.7 jobs for every working resident, most of Helena’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Helena for work: only 1% work in town. At $39,000, Helena’s median household income is where South Carolina’s towns sit at $57,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. Jobs based in Helena grew to 303 in 2023, 89 more than in 2013.
| Helena | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $39,000 | $57,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 6.1% | 8% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
In Helena, expect mild winters and hot summers
Helena has mild winters and hot summers. Helena’s July high is 92°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
A larger share of adults have diabetes in Helena than in most of South Carolina or the rest of the country
23% of adults have diabetes in Helena. Only 2 of the 170 South Carolina towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Helena. 45% of adults have obesity in Helena.
| Helena | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 15% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 52% | 40% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 16% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 21% | 14% |
| What stands out | Helena | SC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.2% | 8.6% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.7% | 15.7% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 15.1% | 8.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Moderate risk in Helena, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 53% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
| Helena | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 61% | 65% | 73% |
| Median rent | $931 a month | $1,060 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Everything we know about Helena
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Helena
About 1 of every 100 Helena residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across South Carolina.
99% of working residents leave Helena for work
Where Helena’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Helena
Census-designated place in South Carolina, United States
Helena is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States. It was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census with a population of 870.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 518 ft
Questions about Helena
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Helena, SC a good place to live?
Helena has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.