HelenaSC
Home to 716 people, the town was 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.
Most of Helena’s workers head elsewhere: there are 0.7 jobs for each of them
For most workers, Helena is a place to come home to: only 1% work in town. Jobs based in Helena grew to 303 in 2023, 89 more than in 2013. The typical household income for Helena comes to $39,000. Half commute less than 25 miles.
| 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
The climate in Helena brings mild winters and hot summers
For Helena, the typical July afternoon 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
Just over a third of adults get no exercise outside work 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. Of 32 CDC measures, Helena beats the South Carolina average on 7 and trails it on 14.
| 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
Helena has a moderate natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
47% of Helena’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by tornadoes at 15%. Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 53% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Homes in Helena sell for about $45K
For households in Helena, the share who own their home is 61%. The median rent in the town is $931 a month.
| 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.