What are the schools like in Helena, AL?

Helena is served primarily by Shelby County. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.1:1.

What is the median household income in Helena?

The median household income in Helena, AL is $107,360 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

What is the weather like in Helena, AL?

Helena has an average high temperature of 54.8°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.2 inches.

Helena, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Helena, AL affordable or expensive?

Helena's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Helena is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $275,600 and the median rent is $1,287 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Helena, AL?

Helena has a violent crime rate of 71.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 436.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Helena, AL a Good Place to Live?

Helena is a small city of 21,036 in Alabama, with a median household income of $107,360 and a 2.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Helena stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Helena is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Helena city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.6

Helena's overall cost of living index is 92.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Helena costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Helena, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$275,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,287	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	91.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$107,360	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Helena's violent crime rate is 71.2 per 100,000 residents — 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

71.2 /100k

Property Crime

436.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Helena is served primarily by Shelby County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Helena, AL	National Avg
School District	Shelby County	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	7	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	48.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Helena sees average highs of 54.8°F in January and 92.2°F in July, with 55.6 inches of annual precipitation and 1.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Helena, AL
Average High — January	54.8°F
Average High — July	92.2°F
Annual Precipitation	55.6"
Annual Snowfall	1.2"

Demographics

Metric	Helena, AL	National Avg
Population	21,036	—
Median Age	38.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	18.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	27.3%	22.2%
65 and over	12.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Brantleyville, AL 4 mi Alabaster, AL 6 mi Hoover, AL 8 mi Bessemer, AL 8 mi Pelham, AL 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Helena

Helena, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

35080

Helena vs Other Cities

Helena, AL vs Brantleyville, AL Helena, AL vs Alabaster, AL Helena, AL vs Hoover, AL Helena, AL vs Bessemer, AL Helena, AL vs Pelham, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Helena, AL affordable or expensive?

Helena's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Helena roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $275,600 and median rent is $1,287/month.

What is the crime rate in Helena, AL?

Helena's violent crime rate is 71.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 436.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Helena?

Public schools in Helena are operated by Shelby County. The district has 16 elementary, 7 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 48.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Helena, AL a good place to live?

Helena, AL has a population of 21,036, a median household income of $107,360, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Helena?

Helena averages 54.8°F in January and 92.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.6 inches with about 1.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Helena?

Helena, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35080.

What is the population of Helena?

The population of Helena, Alabama is 21,036 with a median age of 38.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Helena?

Key numbers for living in Helena: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $275,600, median household income $107,360, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Helena side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.