Helena-West Helena, Arkansas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Helena-West Helena is a small city located in Arkansas, within Phillips County. The total population is 8,935. It ranks as the 43rd most populous out of 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Helena-West Helena is 39.3 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Helena-West Helena is $36,019. This is 41% lower than the state median of $60,773. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 31.7%. This is 98% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 17.7%. This is 257% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $73,200. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $188,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Helena-West Helena is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 42.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Helena-West Helena is Black or African American, making up 71.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 20.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (20.3%) is well below the state average of 67.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (71.9% vs 14.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.7%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

15.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 25.7%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Helena-West Helena, Arkansas is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Arkansas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 614 Census-designated places in Arkansas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.