Helena is a city of 21,769 people in Alabama. The population has more than doubled since 2000, adding 11,473 people. Households here earn about 80% more than in Alabama as a whole. 91% of homes are owner-occupied. Few US cities rank higher on income. This is an unusually credentialed place: 51% of adults have a four-year degree.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $115,139, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.8
US median: 38.9
More educated
51% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Helena
What changed most since 1990
Population3,918 → 21,769(+456%)US over the same years: +35%
Black share6.8% → 18.0%(+11.2 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree29.4% → 51.4%(+22.0 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Helena's population equals 9.5% of Shelby County's. Its number of households without a car equals 1.3% of the county's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 4.2% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)24.6%(244)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)32.5%(322)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era21.8%(216)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 992 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Helena, decade by decade
Helena population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
3,918
$97,366
$203,766
29.4%
17.9
2000
10,296
$114,597
$234,083
45.2%
17.3
2010
16,793
$109,373
$258,655
48.1%
41.3
2020
20,914
$109,062
$246,165
46.0%
55.5
2024
21,769
$115,139
$330,700
51.4%
59.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
