United States › Arkansas › Helena-West Helena CITY
Helena-West Helena Arkansas · 8,216 residents (2025 est.) · 13.1 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 8,935 people, Helena-West Helena is a city in Arkansas. 42% of homes are owner-occupied. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The poverty rate is 31.7%, above the 12.5% national rate. Median home value sits at $73,200. Households here earn about 41% less than in Arkansas as a whole.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 9,218 in 2023
8,216 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 703 / sq mi in 2023
US average: 281
from 39.4 in 2023
US average: 38.9
Population, 2009 – 2024
9K 10K 11K 12K 13K 2009 2010 2020 2024 Helena-West Helena Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $36,019
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $32,466 in 2023
US average: $82,259
from $19,219 in 2023
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 21.1% in 2023
US average: 53.3%
from 32.4% in 2023
US average: 12.5%
from 0.473 in 2023
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
Transportation & warehousing 0.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.2%
Education & health services 0%
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$73,200
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $72,300 in 2023
US average: $376,019
$771
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $774 in 2023
US average: $1,442
from 46.0% in 2023
58.0% rent
from 29.6% in 2023
US average: 10.0%
from 2.52 people in 2023
US average: 2.54
from 8.6% in 2023
US average: 22.9%
from 56.3% in 2023
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 in 2023
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2023
White, non-Hispanic 20%(1,848)
Hispanic / Latino 2.5%(235)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 20.2%(1,809)
Hispanic / Latino 2.7%(238)
from 52 in 2023
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 14.3% in 2023
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 82.4% in 2023
US average: 89.6%
from 3.9% in 2023
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 22.6 min in 2023
US average: 26.5
from 73.3% in 2023
US average: 68.9%
from 17.5% in 2023
US average: 8.5%
from 1.2% in 2023
US average: 3.2%
from 3.5% in 2023
US average: 15.0%
from 1.0% in 2023
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2023
US average: 0.4%
from 17.2% in 2023
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 18.3% in 2023
US average: 5.2%
from 49.9% in 2023
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 74.6%
from 17.1% in 2023
US average: 13.1%
from 30.6% in 2023
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.9% in 2023
US average: 14.1%
from 5.2% in 2023
US average: 6.2%
from 24.0% in 2023
US average: 13.3%
from 8.6% in 2023
US average: 8.4%
from 80.3% in 2023
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
US average: 95.5%
from 97.6% in 2023
US average: 77.7%
from 0.4% in 2023
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 49.1%(1,461)
Women 15+
Never married 43.9%(1,684)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.6% in 2023
US average: 8.4%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.8%
VA health care
US average: 2.2%
Any private
US average: 67.1%
Any public
US average: 36.7%
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) 16.9%(50)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.6%(46)
Share of the 295 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Helena-West Helena Head to head
Compare Helena-West Helena to nearby cities HELENA-WEST HELENA VS
Clarksdale
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HELENA-WEST HELENA VS
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HELENA-WEST HELENA VS
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HELENA-WEST HELENA VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas? Helena-West Helena, Arkansas has about 8,935 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas? The typical household in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas earns about $36,019 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Helena-West Helena, Arkansas expensive? In Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $73,200, and the typical rent is about $771 a month.
How educated are people in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas? About 15.3% of adults age 25 and over in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas? About 31.7% of people in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.
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